From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
thong
n 1: leather strip that forms the flexible part of a whip [syn:
lash]
2: a thin strip of leather; often used to lash things together
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Thong \Thong\, n. [OE. thong, [thorn]wong, thwang, AS.
[thorn]wang; akin to Icel. [thorn]vengr a thong, latchet.
[root]57. Cf. Twinge.]
A strap of leather; especially, one used for fastening
anything.
[1913 Webster]
And nails for loosened spears, and thongs for shields,
provide. --Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
Thong seal (Zool.), the bearded seal. See the Note under
Seal.
[1913 Webster]