Tōngue (tŭng)1, n.
(tŭng), n. [A-S., L. Ger., & Dan. tunge, O. Sax. tunge, tunge, O. Fries. tunge, tonge, D. tong, Icel. & Sw. tunga, Goth. tuggo, O. H. Ger. zunga, N. H. Ger. zunge; Ir. & Gael. teanga, teangaidh; O. Lat. dingua, afterward lingua.]
Sense 1. (Anat.) A muscular organ, free at one extremity, and attached by the other to the floor of the mouth, subserving the purposes of taste, prehension of aliments, deglutition, and in man of articulation also.
Sense 2. Hence, speech; discourse; sometimes, fluency of speech.
Much tongue and much judgment seldom go together. L’Estrange.
Sense 3. The power of articulate utterance; speech. “Parrots imitating human tongue.” Dryden.
Sense 4. Honorable discourse; eulogy. [Obs.]
She was born noble; let that title find her a private grave, but neither tongue nor honor. Beau. & Fl.
Sense 5. A language; the whole sum of words used by a particular nation; as, the English tongue. “To speak all tongues.” Milton.
Sense 6. Speech; words or declarations only;—opposed to thoughts or actions.
Let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 1 John iii. 18.
Sense 7. A nation, as distinguished by language.
I will gather all nations and tongues. Is. lxvi. 18.
Sense 8. That which is considered as resembling an animal’s tongue, in position or form; as, (a.) A projection, or slender appendage or fixture; as, the tongue of a buckle, or of a balance. (b.) A projection on the side of a board which fits into a groove. (c.) A point, or long, narrow strip of land, projecting from the main into a sea or a lake. (d.) The taper part of any thing. (e.) (Naut.) A short piece of rope spliced into the upper part of standing back-stays, &c., to the size of the mast-head; also, the upper main-piece of a mast composed of several pieces.
To hold the tongue, to be silent.
Synonyms—Language; speech; expression. See LANGUAGE.