brave in word but cowardly in deed; tonguey = voluble, abusive; to tongue-walk = to abuse; tongue-warrior = a boaster; to tongue-whip = to lash with scorn; tongue-wagging = speech-making, verbosity, raillery: cf. 'He can wag his tongue better than he can wield his sword, pen,' etc. (of one promising more than he can perform); to wag one's tongue = to talk, to chatter; tongue-work = chatter: in quot. 1598 = philological studies; a long tongue = 'so full of talk that one can't get in a word edge-*ways'; auld wives' tongues = scandal. Also phrases: On (or at) the tip (or end) of the tongue = on the point of speech, about to say (or tell); to give tongue = to blurt out; to keep (or hold) one's tongue = to be silent; to wag one's tongue = to speak out of season; 'as old as my tongue, and a little older than my teeth' = a dovetail to 'How old are you?' a tongue too long for one's teeth (or mouth) = indiscreet, over-ready of speech; to find one's tongue = to break silence; to put one's tongue in another's purse = to silence; tongue enough for two sets of teeth, said of a talkative person (Grose); the tongue of the trump = the best, the most important thing or person: see Trump; 'Mew your tongue' (old) = 'Shut your mouth!' The Vulgar Tongue (Grose) = cant, slang, heterodox speech, etc.
1380. Wyclif, Bible, Eccl. xxv. 27. As a graueli steezing vp in the feet of an old man so a tungy womman to a quyete man [A. V. As the climbing up a sandy way is to the feet of the aged, etc.].
1546. Heywood, Wit and Folly, ii. So muche the bettyr, and yow so muche the wurs, That ye may now put your toong in your purs.
1564. Udall, Erasmus' Apoph., 24. He hath not learned to speake well. Imputing his tonguesore not vnto maliciousness, but vnto the default of right knowledge.
1593. Shakspeare, Taming the Shrew, i. 1. 214. I will charm him first to keep his tongue. Ibid. (1596), Hamlet, iii. 4. 39. What have I done that thou darest wag thy tongue In noise so rude against me? Ibid. (1598), 2 Henry IV., i. 1. So York must sit, and fret, and bite his tongue While his own lands are bargain'd for and sold. Ibid., i. 1. 74. But Priam found the fire ere he his tongue. Ibid. (1603), Meas. for Measure, iv. 4. 28. A deflower'd maid . . . But that her tender shame Will not proclaim against her maiden loss, How might she tongue me. Ibid. (1605), Cymbeline, v. 4. 147. Such stuff as mad-*men Tongue and brain not.
1594. Lyly, Mother Bombie, ii. 1. Mew thy tongue, or wee'le cut it out.
1596. Chapman, Blind Beggar [Shepheard (1899), 16]. Do but tongue-*whip him, madam, and care not, And so I leave him to the mercy of your tongue.
1598. Florio, Worlde of Wordes, 'To Reader,' xii. He may as justly stand vpon in this toong work as in Latin, Sir Thomas Eliot.
1603. Davies, Microcosmos, 22. Then come, sweet Prince, Wales wooeth thee by me, By me hir sorrie Tongs-man.
1607. Middleton, Michælmas Term, iv. 4. I'll listen to the common censure now, How the world tongues me when my ear lies low.
1611. Jonson, Cataline, iv. 2. A boasting, insolent tongue-man.
c. 1620. Fletcher, Double Marriage, iv. 3. Use more respect, and woman, 'twill become you; At least, less tongue.
1627. E. F., Hist. Edward II., 55. I am no tongue-man, nor can move with language; but if we come to act I'll not be idle.
1634. Withals, Dict., 562. Lingua bellat: hee layes it on with tong-powder.
1644. Milton, Divorce, ii. 21. An unseemly affront . . . to have her unpleasingness bandied up and down . . . in open court by those hir'd masters of
