online medical dictionary | definition of fang

1. <zoology> The tusk of an animal, by which the prey is seized and held or torn; a long pointed tooth; especially, one of the usually erectile, venomous teeth of serpents. Also, one of the falcers of a spider. "Since I am a dog, beware my fangs." (Shak)

2. Any shoot or other thing by which hold is taken. "The protuberant fangs of the yucca." (Evelyn)

3. <anatomy> The root, or one of the branches of the root, of a tooth. See Tooth.

4. <chemical>

A niche in the side of an adit or shaft, for an air course.

5. <mechanics> A projecting tooth or prong, as in a part of a lock, or the plate of a belt clamp, or the end of a tool, as a chisel, where it enters the handle.

6. The valve of a pump box. A bend or loop of a rope. In a fang, fast entangled. To lose the fang, said of a pump when the water has gone out; hence: To fang a pump, to supply it with the water necessary to make it operate.

Origin: From Fang,; cf. AS. Fang a taking, booty, G. Fang.

(01 Mar 1998)