In 1511, leaders in Mecca believed coffee stimulated radical thinking and outlawed the drink. In 1524, the leaders overturned that order, and people could drink coffee again.
tongs, pair of tongs
(noun) any of various devices for taking hold of objects; usually have two hinged legs with handles above and pointed hooks below
Source: WordNet® 3.1
tong ("tool for manipulating things in a fire") + -s
tongs pl (plural only)
An instrument or tool used for picking things up without touching them with the hands or fingers, consisting of two slats or grips hinged at the end or in the middle, and sometimes including a spring to open the grips.
(by extension) A large scissors-like two-piece center-hinged forged-iron implement with oval-loop handles and with pointed tips turned inward (in the same plane as and perpendicular to the handles) to facilitate lifting and carrying a block of ice. Often called ice tongs.
tongs
plural of tong (“instrument”)
tongs
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of tong
tongs
plural of tong (“Chinese secret society”)
• stong
Tongs
plural of Tong
• stong
Source: Wiktionary
Tongs, n. pl. Etym: [OE. tonge, tange, AS. tange; akin to D. tang, G. zanga, OHG. zanga, Don. tang, Sw. tng, Icel. tng, Gr. dadaTang a strong taste, anything projecting.]
Definition: 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.
Tong, Tonge, n.
Definition: Tongue. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
29 March 2025
(adjective) without care or thought for others; “the thoughtless saying of a great princess on being informed that the people had no bread; ‘Let them eat cake’”
In 1511, leaders in Mecca believed coffee stimulated radical thinking and outlawed the drink. In 1524, the leaders overturned that order, and people could drink coffee again.