Forked tongue

Forked tongue

A forked tongue is a tongue split into two distinct ends at the tip; this is a feature common to many species of reptiles. Reptiles smell using the tip of their tongue, and a forked tongue allows them to sense from which direction a smell is coming.

The image has given rise to the expression "to speak with a forked tongue", meaning to say one thing and mean another or, in more general terms, to act in a duplicitous manner.

Hummingbirds also have tongues that split at the tip. [cite web |url=http://www.rubythroat.org/RTHUAnatomyMain.html#anchor459868 |title=Hummingbird Internal Anatomy and Physiology |accessdate=2008-02-13 |author=Bill Hilton Jr |date=2007-06-12 |work=Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project |publisher=Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History |quote=The tongue itself splits in the floor of the mouth] Galagos (bushbabies) have a secondary tongue, or sublingua, used for grooming, hidden under their first. [cite web |url=http://www.monkeyland.co.za/bushbabies.htm |title=Bushbaby - Galago moholi |accessdate=2008-02-13 |author=Monkeyland |work=Meet Our Primates |publisher=Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary |quote=equipped with a second, pointy tongue underneath their normal one]

ee also

*Doublespeak
*Tongue splitting

References


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • forked tongue — ☆ forked tongue n. 〚prob. transl. of AmInd expression〛 lying or deceitful talk [to speak with a forked tongue] * * * …   Universalium

  • forked tongue — ☆ forked tongue n. [prob. transl. of AmInd expression] lying or deceitful talk [to speak with a forked tongue] …   English World dictionary

  • forked tongue — noun The characteristic of deceptiveness; duplicity; untruthfulness. This man has a forked tongue and lacks credibility. See Also: speak with a forked tongue …   Wiktionary

  • forked tongue — See: SPEAK WITH A FORKED TONGUE …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • forked tongue — See: SPEAK WITH A FORKED TONGUE …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • forked tongue — noun Date: 1833 intent to mislead or deceive usually used in the phrase to speak with forked tongue …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • forked\ tongue — See: speak with a forked tongue …   Словарь американских идиом

  • forked tongue — n. duplicity, deception, lie, untruthful statement; tongue separated into two different ends at the tip (common in many reptiles) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • forked tongue — …   Useful english dictionary

  • speak/talk with a forked tongue — speak/talk with (a) forked tongue : to speak in a dishonest way that is meant to deceive people His colleagues accused him of speaking with a forked tongue. • • • Main Entry: ↑forked speak/talk with (a) forked tongue see ↑forked • • • Main Entry …   Useful english dictionary

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