Tongue
/tʌŋ/noun
The fleshy muscular organ in the mouth used for tasting, articulating speech, and swallowing.
Did you know?In ancient cultures, the tongue was believed to hold the power to cast spells and invoke the divine, making it a sacred organ in rituals.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dn̥ǵʰwéh₂s
“A term referring to the organ of speech, often associated with the act of speaking or making sounds.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
γλῶσσα (glōssa)
“Referring to both the tongue and language, symbolizing the power of articulation.”
Latin
Latin
lingua
“Meaning 'tongue', but also used metaphorically to denote language or speech.”
Old English
Old English
tunge
“The physical tongue, also representing the concept of speech and communication.”
Middle English
Middle English
tonge
“Continuing from Old English, emphasizing both the organ and the spoken word.”
Modern English
English
tongue
“Referring to the organ in the mouth, but still carrying its historical ties to speech and language.”