Tang

n. [Prov. Eng. tang, the part of a knife or fork which passes into the haft, the prong of a fork, a sting, a bad taste or flavor, Icel. tangi, id., D. tang, tongs, pincers, O. D. tangher, sharp, rough, Gr. ταγγός, rancid.]

1Sense 1. A strong or offensive taste; especially, a taste of something extraneous to the thing itself; as, wine or cider has a tang of the cask.

2Sense 2. Relish; taste. “A cant of philosophism, and a tang of party politics, which communicate an air of vulgarity to the whole work.” Jeffrey.

Such proceedings had a strong tang of tyranny. Fuller.

3Sense 3. Something that leaves a sting or pain behind.

She had a tongue with a tang. Shak.

4Sense 4. A projecting part of an object by means of which it is secured to a handle, or to some other part; any thing resembling a tongue in form or position; as, (a.) The part of a knife or fork which is inserted into the handle. (b.) The part of a musket, or that projecting part of the breech, by which the barrel is secured to the stock. (c.) The part of a sword blade to which the handle is fastened. (d.) The tongue of a buckle.

5Sense 5. [Cf. TWANG.] A sharp or twanging sound; tone; twang. Holder.

6Sense 6. The sting of a bee.

[imp. & p. p. TANGED; p. pr. & vb. n. TANGING.] To cause to ring or sound loudly; to ring.

To tang bees, to cause a swarm of bees to settle, by making a loud, ringing noise.

[See TANG, n., 4.] To make a ringing sound; to ring.

“The process in question, known in country phrase as “tanging,” is founded on the belief that the bees will not settle unless under the influence of this peculiar music. Hughes.

n. A Siamese dry measure containing fifteen quarts. Simmonds.