tongs

[tawngz, tongz]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR tongs ON THESAURUS.COM

noun (usually used with a plural verb)

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).

Origin of tongs

see origin at tong¹

Can be confusedthongs tongs tongues

tong

[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 tong

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

tong

[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 tong

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. 2019

Related Words for tongs

pliers, forceps

Examples from the Web for tongs

Contemporary Examples of tongs

Cook until the underside is a deep golden brown, then flip the grispelle with tongs and brown the other side.
Italy's Best Dessert Secret
Rosetta Costantino
December 9, 2010

Historical Examples of tongs

Constance had set to work poking the fire logs with the tongs.
Fruitfulness
Emile 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 Inheritance
Joseph C. Lincoln
Here is shown a pair of tongs that makes easy work of the job.
The Automobile Storage Battery
O. A. Witte
While Pensioner was saying this, he took the tongs and picked a live coal from the fire.
Our Young Folks, Vol 1, No. 1
Various

British Dictionary definitions for tongs

tongs

pl n

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

Word Origin for tongs

plural of Old English tange; related to Old Saxon tanga, Old High German zanga, Old Norse tong

tong

verb (tr)

to gather or seize with tongs

to curl or style (hair) with curling tongs

tong

noun

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

Word Origin for tong

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

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."

Tong

"Chinese secret society," 1883, from Cantonese t'ong "assembly hall."

Idioms and Phrases with tongs

tong

see hammer and tongs.