Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 2005 (SND, online supplement).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1990-2003
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CALTON TONGS, prop.n. Name for a Glasgow gang active esp. in the 1920s and 30s.Gsw. 1990 John and Willy Maley From the Calton to Catalonia 16:
If he wanted a fight why did he no jist join the Calton Tongs? At least he'd be hame at nights, chibbed ur no.Sc. 1993 Times 15 May :
The change in knife-use has been witnessed by David Bryce, who was a prominent member of the Calton Tongs in the East End.Sc. 1999 Scotland on Sunday 4 Apr 3:
Throughout his youth, he drifted in and out of approved schools and young offenders' institutions before serving a 21-month sentence in Peterhead prison for running a protection racket with the Calton Tongs.Sc. 2003 Daily Record 8 Jan 24:
The Calton Tongs were among the most feared group of the time, along with the Dennistoun Monks, the Govan Team, the Toi and countless other groups such as the Cody, Baltic Fleet, and Castlemilk Young Team.
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"Calton Tongs n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 12 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/snd00090363>
