Adjacent Words

Tongs definitions

	Tweet

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

TONGS, n. plu. An instrument of metal, consisting of two parts or long shafts joined at one end; used for handling things, particularly fire or heated metals. We say, a pair of tongs, a smith's tongs.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: any of various devices for taking hold of objects; usually have two hinged legs with handles above and pointed hooks below [syn: tongs, pair of tongs]

Merriam Webster's

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

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n.pl. (also pair of tongs sing.) an instrument with two hinged or sprung arms for grasping and holding. Etymology: pl. of tong f. OE tang(e) f. Gmc

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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, usually of metal, consisting of two parts, or long shafts, jointed together at or near one end, or united by an elastic bow, used for handling things, especially hot coals or metals; -- often called a pair of tongs.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Tongs are a tool that you use to grip and pick up objects that you do not want to touch. They consist of two long narrow pieces of metal joined together at one end. hammer and tongs: see hammer N-PLURAL: also a pair of N

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

tongz (melqachayim): This word is, where it occurs in the King James Version and the English Revised Version, with two exceptions, changed in the American Standard Revised Version into "snuffers" (Ex 25:38; Nu 4:9; 2Ch 4:21; see SNUFFERS), The exceptions are 1Ki 7:49, "tongs of gold," and Isa 6:6, "taken with the tongs from off the altar."

In Isa 44:12, where another word (ma`atsadh) is used, "the smith with the tongs" of the King James Version is changed in the Revised Version (British and American) into "the smith maketh an axe" (compare Jer 10:3).

See also ALTAR; TOOLS.