From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
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}.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
tongs
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}]
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