Obs. [a. F. taon (pronounced taṅ, earlier toṅ) gad-fly (12th c. in Littré), later also applied in the environs of Paris to the larva of the cockchafer (Littré):—pop.L. *tabōnem, for L. tabānum (-us) gad-fly, whence Prov. tavan, Sp. tábano, Pg. tavão, It. tafa·no, tabano, † tavano, gad-fly.] The larva of the cockchafer, which lives underground and feeds on the roots of plants.
1693. Evelyn, De la Quint. Compl. Gard., II. 100. Kitchen-Plants, especially Lettuce, and Succory, &c. constantly have some of those Tons, or other little reddish Worms which gnaw them about the neck, and kill them [margin Those usually called by the Name of Cock-Chafers]. Ibid., 202. The great Enemies of Straw-berry Plantations are the Ton’s which are great White Worms, that in the Months of May and June, gnaw the necks of their Roots.
1712. J. James, trans. Le Blond’s Gardening, 173. The great Enemies to Trees, are … Snails, Tons, Turks, and abundance of Worms.
