Emily Dickinson Lexicon

TONGS, n. [plur. Sax. tang; Dan. and D. tang; G. zange; Sw. tång; Ice. taung; Gaelic, teangas. This seems by its orthography to be the same word as tongue, tongues, and to signify projections, shoots.]

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.