Lexical Definition

‎γλῶσσα‎ glōssa (gloce-sah') tongue ^G:N-F
of uncertain affinity

tongue.

• the tongue
• by implication, a language (specially, one naturally unacquired)

Abbott-Smith

γλῶσσα, -ης, ἡ, [in LXX chiefly for לָשׁוֹן ;]

1. the tongue, as the organ of speech: Mk 7:33, 35 Lk 1:64 16:24, Ac 2:26 (LXX), Ro 3:13 (LXX) 14:11 (LXX), I Co 14:9, Phl 2:11, Ja 1:26 3:5, 6, 8, I Pe 3:10 (LXX), I Jo 3:18, Re 16:10; of a tongue-like object, Ac 2:3.
2. a tongue, language: Ac 2:11; joined with φυλή, λαός, ἔθνος, freq. in pl., Re 5:9 7:9 10:11 11:9 13:7 14:6 17:15; λαλεῖν ἑτέραις γ., Ac 2:4; γ. λαλεῖν καιναῖς, WH, txt. (RV, mg., omit καιναῖς), Mk 16:17; λαλεῖν γλώσσαις, γλώσσῃ (v. ICC, ll. c.; DB, iv, 793ff.), Mk 16:17, WH, txt., R, mg., Ac 10:46 19:6, I Co 12:30 13:1 14:2, 4-6, 13, 18, 23, 27, 39; γλῶσσαι (= λόγοι ἐν γλώσσῃ, I Co 14:19), I Co 13:8 14:22; γένη γλωσσῶν, I Co 12:10, 28; προσεύχεσθαι γλώσσῃ, I Co 14:14; γλῶσσαν ἔχειν, I Co 14:26 (Cremer, 163, 679).†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

γλῶσσα,

Ionic dialect γλάσσα, [Refs 3rd c.BC+], Attic dialect γλῶττα, ης, ἡ, tongue, [Refs 8th c.BC+]

__b γ. λάρυγγος, ={γλωττίς}, larynx, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__2 tongue, as the organ of speech, γλώσσης χάριν through love of talking, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; γλώσσῃ δεινός, θρασύς, [Refs 5th c.BC+] by frankness of speech, [Refs 6th c.BC+], of fraud opposed to violence, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; also, by word of mouth, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰ γλώσσης ἄπο, i.e. our words, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀπὸ γ. φράσω by heart, opposed to γράμμασιν, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οὐκ ἀπὸ γλώσσης not from mere word of mouth, but after full argument, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; μὴ διὰ γλώσσης without using the tongue, [γλῶσσαν κλύων 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Trachiniae” 747:">Refs 5th c.BC+] —phrases: πᾶσαν γλῶτταν βασάνιζε try every art of tongue, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πᾶσαν ἱέναι γλῶσσαν let loose one's whole tongue, speak withoutrestraint, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κακὰ γ. slander, [Refs 5th c.BC+], i.e. with blasphemies, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__3 of persons, one who is all tongue, speaker, of Pericles, μεγίστη γ. τῶν Ἑλληνίδων [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__4 ἡ γ. τοῦ ταμιείου the advocacy of the fiscus, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__II language, ἄλλη δ᾽ ἄλλων γ. μεμιγμένη [Refs 8th c.BC+]; γλῶσσαν ἱέναι speak a language or dialect, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; γ. Ἑλληνίδα, Δωρίδα ἱέναι, [γλῶσσαν νομίζειν 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.142, 4.183; γλώσσῃ χρῆσθαι [prev. author] 4.109; κατὰ τὴν ἀρχαίαν γ. 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Rhetorica” 1357b10 ">Refs 5th c.BC+]; dialect, ἡ Ἀττικὴ γ. [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__II.2 obsolete or foreign word, which needs explanation, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__II.3 people speaking a distinct language,[LXX+4th c.BC+]
__III anything shaped like the tongue [γλῶσσαι ὡσεὶ πυρός NT.Acts.2.3). ">NT]
__III.1 in Music, rced or tongue of a pipe, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__III.2 tongue or thong of leather, shoe-latchet, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__III.3 tongue of land, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__III.4 ingot, γ. χρυσῆ [LXX]
__III.5 marking on the liver, in divination, [γλῶσσα">Refs 5th c.AD+] from γλωχ-y[acaron], compare γλώξ, γλωχί; γλάσσα from *γλᾰχ-y[acaron], weak grade of same root.)

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: Acts.2.3 ☩ LXX.Josh.7.21}