tongs

tongs
noun plural but singular or plural in construction Etymology: Middle English tonges, plural of tonge, from Old English tang; akin to Old High German zanga tongs and perhaps to Greek daknein to bite Date: before 12th century any of numerous grasping devices consisting commonly of two pieces joined at one end by a pivot or hinged like scissors

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Tongs — are and lifting tools, of which there are many forms adapted to their specific use. Some are merely large pincers or nippers, but the greatest number fall into three classes: # Tongs which have long arms terminating in small flat circular ends of …   Wikipedia

  • Tongs — Tongs, n. pl. [OE. tonge, tange, AS. tange; akin to D. tang, G. zanga, OHG. zanga, Don. tang, Sw. t[*a]ng, Icel. t[ o]ng, Gr. da knein to bite, Skr. da[ n]i[,c], da[,c]. [root]59. Cf. {Tang} a strong taste, anything projecting.] An instrument,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tongs — (n.) O.E. tange, tang tongs, from P.Gmc. *tango (Cf. O.S. tanga, O.N. töng, Swed. tông, O.Fris. tange, M.Du. tanghe, Du. tang, O.H.G. zanga, Ger. Zange), lit. that which bites, from PIE root *dank …   Etymology dictionary

  • tongs — [ tɔŋz ] noun plural 1. ) a metal or plastic object that consists of two connected arms that you push together in order to pick something up: a pair of sugar tongs 2. ) BRITISH a CURLING IRON …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • tongs — tongs; tongs·man; …   English syllables

  • tongs — ► PLURAL NOUN 1) a tool with two movable arms that are joined at one end, used for picking up and holding things. 2) curling tongs. ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

  • tongs — [tôŋz, täŋz] pl.n. [ME tongys, pl. of tonge < OE tange, akin to Ger zange < IE base * denk̑ , to bite: basic sense “those that bite together”] [sometimes with sing. v.] a device for seizing or lifting objects, having two long arms pivoted… …   English World dictionary

  • tongs — (tongs) an instrument for grasping and holding, consisting of two arms joined by a hinge or pivot …   Medical dictionary

  • tongs — [tɔŋz US ta:ŋz, to:ŋz] n [plural] [: Old English; Origin: tang (singular)] a tool that you use to lift up small objects. It has two bars joined at one end, that you press together to lift objects …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • -tongs — tongs, etc noun Garden implements of varying forms for getting rid of weeds ● weed …   Useful english dictionary

  • Tongs — Tong  Pour l’article homophone, voir Thongue. Une paire de tongs …   Wikipédia en Français

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