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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Tongs \Tongs\, noun 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}.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
tongs
noun: any of various devices for taking hold of objects; usually have two hinged legs with handles above and pointed hooks below [syn: {pair of tongs}]
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