Answers:
The tonsils are organs of lymphoid tissue which serve a function similar to lymph nodes in protecting against infection. However, it's also believed that they support scuffle rotten pharyngeal and upper respiratory tract infections. You could reckon of them as lymph nodes which (in the evolutionary hatch up of things) specialized. Whatever their native land, they're sufficiently distinct that they aren't considered to be lymph nodes.
Hope that answers your request for information.