tong¹

[tawng, tong]

noun

tongs.

verb (used with object)

to lift, seize, gather, hold, or handle with tongs, as logs or oysters.

verb (used without object)

to use, or work with, tongs.

Origin of tong¹

before 900; 1865–70, for def 2; Middle English tong(e) (singular), tongen, tonges (plural), Old English; cognate with Dutch tang, German Zange pair of tongs or pincers; akin to Greek dáknein to bite

Related formstong·er, noun

Can be confusedthong tong tongue

tong²

[tawng, tong]

noun

(in China) an association, society, or political party.
(among Chinese living in the U.S.) a fraternal or secret society, often associated with criminal activities.

Origin of tong²

1880–85, Americanism; < dialectal Chinese (Guangdong) tòhng, akin to Chinese táng meeting hall

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for tong

Contemporary Examples

Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut and Senator Mitch McConnell of Wherever are going at it hammer and tong.
Let the Democrats Win
Christopher Buckley
April 14, 2010

Historical Examples

A bunch of us are planning to go to Tong's for a Chinese meal.
Have We No Rights?
Mabel Williamson
In the Tong version, the action seems to be done by the ring.
The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Vol II of II)
Alice Bertha Gomme
Tong Pee, crushed to a pulp under the binnacle, made no reply.
Command
William McFee
He had never been a communicative person, Tong Pee, and now he had no choice.
Command
William McFee
It doesn't look like a place for a Tong row with Chinese pirates, though, does it?
Moran of the Lady Letty
Frank Norris

British Dictionary definitions for tong

tong¹

verb (tr)

to gather or seize with tongs
to curl or style (hair) with curling tongs

tong²

noun

(formerly) a Chinese secret society or association, esp one popularly assumed to engage in criminal activities

Word Origin

C20: from Chinese (Cantonese) t'ong meeting place

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

tong¹

Origin of tong¹

tong²

Origin of tong²

Examples from the Web for tong

Contemporary Examples

Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut and Senator Mitch McConnell of Wherever are going at it hammer and tong.

Historical Examples

A bunch of us are planning to go to Tong's for a Chinese meal.

In the Tong version, the action seems to be done by the ring.

Tong Pee, crushed to a pulp under the binnacle, made no reply.

He had never been a communicative person, Tong Pee, and now he had no choice.

It doesn't look like a place for a Tong row with Chinese pirates, though, does it?

tong¹

tong²

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for tong

Tong

Idioms and Phrases with tong

tong

tong.css-pdubzd{font-size:17px;vertical-align:super;}1

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}tong1

tong2

Origin of tong2

Examples from the Web for tong

Contemporary Examples

Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut and Senator Mitch McConnell of Wherever are going at it hammer and tong.

Historical Examples

A bunch of us are planning to go to Tong's for a Chinese meal.

In the Tong version, the action seems to be done by the ring.

Tong Pee, crushed to a pulp under the binnacle, made no reply.

He had never been a communicative person, Tong Pee, and now he had no choice.

It doesn't look like a place for a Tong row with Chinese pirates, though, does it?

tong1

tong2

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for tong

Tong

Idioms and Phrases with tong

tong

tong¹

Origin of tong¹

tong²

Origin of tong²

tong¹

tong²