to lift, seize, gather, hold, or handle with tongs, as logs or oysters.
–verb (used without object)
3.
to use, or work with, tongs.
Origin: bef. 900; 1865–70, for def. 2;ME tong(e) (sing.), tongen, tonges (pl.), OE; c. D tang, G Zange pair of tongs or pincers; akin to Gk dáknein to bite
[tawng, tong] 
,