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tongman

American  
[tawng-muhn, tong-] / ˈtɔŋ mən, ˈtɒŋ- /

noun

  • tongmen
    plural
  1. a member of a Chinese tong.


Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of tongman

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; tong 2 + man


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Of this daring feat no tongman seems to tire.

From Time Magazine Archive

Though the divers usually work deeper than the tongmen and thus are not vying for the same oysters, the oldtimers feel threatened by the more efficient newcomers.

From Time Magazine Archive

Amid the inscrutable intrigue of old-fashioned tongmen and newfangled business operators in San Francisco's Chinatown, tiny Dolly Gee, 64, was empress of finance.

From Time Magazine Archive

His tongmen, there are some eight or ten involved in the plot, were greedy for more money.

From The Vanishing Houseboat by Mildred A. (Mildred Augustine) Wirt

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