tongs

Tongs are grasping tools, commonly made of two pieces joined at a pivot or hinged like scissors, used for handling objects. Early tongs, possibly made from sticks, were developed to handle hot coals, with bronze bars appearing as early as 3000 BCE. Hinged tongs became common around 500 BCE, offering a mechanical advantage for gripping.12

Different types of tongs exist, including:
* Pick tongs: Used for handling hot metal.3
* Lazy tongs: Consist of jointed bars for reaching and handling objects at a distance.4
* Chain tongs: Designed for turning large pipes.5

The term "tong" also refers to Chinese immigrant associations, some of which were involved in illegal activities during feuds known as "tong wars" in U.S. cities from the 1850s to the 1920s.6