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tongman

American

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

noun

a member of a Chinese tong.

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

tongmen

plural

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.

Of this daring feat no tongman seems to tire.

From Time Magazine Archive

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.