Tongue.
1. (Vehicle.) The single shaft or pole which, in two-horse vehicles, is attached to the fore-carriage, and is the means of guiding and drawing. The tongue or pole was the universal appendage to ancient vehicles. Horses, cattle, or asses were yoked to the tongue. When traces were used, in the case of horses, there was only one to each animal, and that on the side next to the tongue. They pulled by the yoke, which was fastened by a vertical pin to the tongue. The rear end of the tongue was tenoned into the axletree, if of wood, or lashed to it, if of iron. See car; carriage; chariot; etc.
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| Lid-lifting tongs. |
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| Tongue of Street-car. |
2. (Music.) The vibrating slip of metal in a metallic frame, giving a musical tone in an accordeon, concertina, melodeon, parlor-organ, etc. See free reed. 3. The pin in a buckle which pierces and holds the strap. Buckles and brooches (fibuloe) with movable tongues were common in Rome. See buckle.
4. (Railroading.) The short movable rail of a switch, by which the wheels are directed to one or the other lines of rail. See switch.
5. (Carpentry.) a. A fin on the edge of a plate or board, adapted to fit into a groove of an adjacent board. Also used in sliding parts of machinery. b. The tapering, projecting end of a timber, worked down to fay upon an edge, or scarf to another timber.
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| Tongue and groove. |
6. (Nautical.) a. The upper main piece of a built mast. b. A rope spliced into the upper part of a standing back-stay. 7. The clapper of a bell. 8. The movable arm of a bevel, the principal member being the stock, which forms the case when the instrument is closed. See bevel. 9. The pointer of a balance.
