An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Zange

by Friedrich Kluge

Zange, feminine, ‘tongs, pincers,’ from the equivalent Middle High German zange, Old High German zanga, feminine; corresponding to Dutch tang, Anglo-Saxon tǫnge, English tongs, and the equivalent Old Icelandic tǫng. The common Teutonic tangô- assumes a pre-Teutonic dankâ-, which is usually connected with the Sanscrit root danç (daç), ‘to bite’ (compare Greek δάκνω); hence Zange, literally ‘biter.’ Compare Old High German zangar, Middle High German zanger, ‘biting, sharp, lively,’ whence Italian tanghero, ‘unpolished, coarse.’