[f. TONGUE sb. + TIE v., or more prob. a back-formation from next.] trans. To tie or confine the tongue of; to restrain or debar from speaking; to render speechless.

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1555.  J. Rogers, in Foxe, A. & M. (1563), 1032/2. Your wycked lawes can not so tongue tye vs, but we will speake the truth.

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1611.  Heywood, Gold. Age, I. i. Wks. 1874, III. 14. Let euerlasting silence Tong-tye the world.

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1833.  Lamb, Elia, Ser. II. Pref. The ligaments, which tongue-tied him, were loosened.

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1851.  D. Jerrold, St. Giles, xxxii. 335. Her face was livid with agony, that seemed to tongue-tie her.

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  Hence Tongue-tier, that which ties the tongue: see quots.; Tongue-tying vbl. sb. (lit. and fig.).

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1754–64.  Smellie, Midwif., I. 428. Tongue-tying is easily remedied by introducing the forefinger into the child’s mouth, raising up the tongue, and snipping the bridle with a pair of Scissars.

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1869.  Routledge’s Ev. Boy’s Ann., 469. This tongue-lying was the severest part of our watch.

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1883.  Athenæum, 24 Nov., 675/3. [It] shows a woman wearing a branks, or tongue-tier.

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1905.  Daily Chron., 29 Aug., 4/6. There are names … that demand shortening, tongue-tiers such as Giggleswick, which almost necessarily dwindles into Gilzick.

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