Etymograph

English

tang

Tang comes from Middle English tonge ‘tongs, fang’, from Old Norse tangi ‘pointed metal tool’, and ultimately from Proto-Germanic *tang-.

  1. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*tang-reconstructed
  2. Old Norsec. 800–1350tangi‘pointed metal tool’
  3. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500tonge‘tongs, fang’
  4. Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500tangevariant of tonge
  5. Englishearliest quotation 1655tang

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*tang-reconstructed
  2. Old Norsec. 800–1350tangi‘pointed metal tool’
  3. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500tonge‘tongs, fang’
  4. Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500tangevariant of tonge
  5. Englishearliest quotation 1655tang

Earliest quotation: 1655, Thomas Fuller, The Church-history of Britain; […]: “Such proceedings had a strong tang of tyranny.”

The story

From Middle English tange, variant of tonge (‘tongs, fang’), from Old Norse tangi (‘pointed metal tool’), perhaps related to Old Norse tunga (‘tongue’). But see also Middle Dutch tanger (‘sharp, tart, pinching’).

Linked words

through Middle English tonge ‘tongs, fang’

tong, tung

Today it means

noun A refreshingly sharp aroma or flavor.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Germanic *tang- / tang

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