n. [ Probably fr. OD. tanger sharp, tart, literally, pinching; akin to E. tongs. √59. See Tong. ] 1. A strong or offensive taste; especially, a taste of something extraneous to the thing itself; as, wine or cider has a tang of the cask. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fig.: A sharp, specific flavor or tinge. Cf. Tang a twang. [ 1913 Webster ]

Such proceedings had a strong tang of tyranny. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

A cant of philosophism, and a tang of party politics. Jeffrey. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. [ Probably of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. tangi a projecting point; akin to E. tongs. See Tongs. ] A projecting part of an object by means of which it is secured to a handle, or to some other part; anything resembling a tongue in form or position. Specifically: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

(a) The part of a knife, fork, file, or other small instrument, which is inserted into the handle. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) The projecting part of the breech of a musket barrel, by which the barrel is secured to the stock. [ 1913 Webster ]

(c) The part of a sword blade to which the handle is fastened. [ 1913 Webster ]

(d) The tongue of a buckle. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Chin. T`ang. ] A dynasty in Chinese history, from a. d. 618 to 905, distinguished by the founding of the Imperial Academy (the Hanlin), by the invention of printing, and as marking a golden age of literature. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Tanged p. pr. & vb. n. Tanging. ] To cause to ring or sound loudly; to ring. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let thy tongue tang arguments of state. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

To tang bees, to cause a swarm of bees to settle, by beating metal to make a din. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Of imitative origin. Cf. Twang. This word has become confused with tang taste, flavor. ] A sharp, twanging sound; an unpleasant tone; a twang. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To make a ringing sound; to ring. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let thy tongue tang arguments of state. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Of Scand. origin; cf. Dan. tang seaweed, Sw. tång, Icel. þang. Cf. Tangle. ] (Bot.) A coarse blackish seaweed (Fucus nodosus). Dr. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

Tang sparrow (Zool.), the rock pipit. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) An East Indian civet (Viverra tangalunga). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Tangerine + pomelo. ] A hybrid between the tangerine orange and the grapefruit, or pomelo; also, the fruit. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. Tangency. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being tangent; a contact or touching. [ 1913 Webster ]