I. ˈtäŋ, ˈtȯŋ noun
Etymology: Chinese (Guangdong) tòhng, literally, hall
Date: 1883
: a secret society or fraternal organization especially of Chinese in the United States formerly notorious for gang warfare
II. verb
Etymology: tongs
Date: 1868
transitive verb
: to take, gather, hold, or handle with tongs
tong oysters
intransitive verb
: to use tongs especially in taking or gathering something
• tong·er ˈtäŋ-ər, ˈtȯŋ- noun