Forceps are only an unhinged instrument.
Forceps ( plural forceps or forcipes ) are a handheld , hinged instrument used for grasping and holding objects . Outside medicine , people usually refer to forceps as tweezers , tongs , pliers , clips or clamps . There are two basic types of forceps : non-locking ( often called ` thumb forceps ' or ` pick-ups ' ) and locking , though these two types come in dozens of specialized forms for various uses . Forceps are a surgical instrument that resembles a pair of tongs and can be used in surgery for grabbing , manoeuvering , or removing various things within or from the body .