1. A name given to species of plantain (trans. med.L. arnoglossa, Gr. ἀρνόγλωσσον), and other plants.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, I. lxiii. 92. Plantayne is called in Greeke ἀρνόγλωσσος that is Lingua Agnina, Lammes tungue.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, II. xcii. § 6. 340.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 64/2. A bunch of Plantan Leaves some call it Lambs Tongue.
1803. Trans. Soc. Arts, XXI. 171. Will eat a sort of weed provincially termed Lambs Tongue (somewhat resembling the sweet gale in appearance, but not in smell).
2. A sort of plane (see quot.); also the molding shaped by this plane.
1858. Skyrings Builders Prices (ed. 48), 36. If astragal and hollow, lambs tongue or other modern bar, add 11/2d.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., Lambs-tongue, a plane with a deep, narrow bit for making quirks.