tongs
[tawngz, tongz]
- any of various implements consisting of two arms hinged, pivoted, or otherwise fastened together, for seizing, holding, or lifting something (usually used with pair of).
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Origin of tongs
see origin at tong1
tong1
[tawng, tong]
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- to lift, seize, gather, hold, or handle with tongs, as logs or oysters.
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- to use, or work with, tongs.
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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
tong2
[tawng, tong]
- (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.
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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 tongs
Contemporary Examples
Cook until the underside is a deep golden brown, then flip the grispelle with tongs and brown the other side.
Historical Examples
Constance had set to work poking the fire logs with the tongs.
FruitfulnessEmile Zola
If it were a Westralian or a Kaffir I would n't touch it with a pair of tongs!
Joy (First Series Plays)John Galsworthy
He even got up in revival meetin' and laid into it hammer and tongs.
Thankful's InheritanceJoseph C. Lincoln
Here is shown a pair of tongs that makes easy work of the job.
The Automobile Storage BatteryO. A. Witte
While Pensioner was saying this, he took the tongs and picked a live coal from the fire.
tongs
- a tool for grasping or lifting, consisting of a hinged, sprung, or pivoted pair of arms or levers, joined at one endAlso called: pair of tongs
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Word Origin
plural of Old English tange; related to Old Saxon tanga, Old High German zanga, Old Norse tong
tong1
- to gather or seize with tongs
- to curl or style (hair) with curling tongs
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tong2
- (formerly) a Chinese secret society or association, esp one popularly assumed to engage in criminal activities
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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
Word Origin and History for tongs
n.
Old English tange, tang "tongs," from Proto-Germanic *tango (cf. Old Saxon tanga, Old Norse töng, Swedish tång, Old Frisian tange, Middle Dutch tanghe, Dutch tang, Old High German zanga, German Zange), literally "that which bites," from PIE root *dank- "bite" (cf. Sanskrit dasati "biter;" Greek daknein "to bite," dax "biting"). For sense evolution, cf. French mordache "tongs," from mordre "to bite."
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Tong
"Chinese secret society," 1883, from Cantonese t'ong "assembly hall."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with tongs
tong
see hammer and tongs.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.