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 ] | 
