claw

Meaning

Noun

1. A curved, pointed, horny projection on each digit of the foot of a mammal, reptile, or bird.
2. A foot equipped with such.
3. The pincer (chela) of a crustacean or other arthropod.
4. A mechanical device resembling a claw, used for gripping or lifting.
5. (colloquial) A human fingernail, particularly one extending well beyond the fingertip.
6. A slender appendage or process, formed like a claw, such as the base of petals of the pink.
7. The act of catching a ball overhand.
8. A tree with one internal vertex and three leaves.

Verb

1. To scratch or to tear at.
2. To use the claws to seize, to grip.
3. To use the claws to climb.
4. To perform a claw catch.
5. To move with one's fingertips.
6. (obsolete, transitive) To relieve an uneasy feeling, such as an itch, by scratching (someone or something); hence (figuratively), to flatter or humour (someone); to court, to fawn on.
7. (obsolete, transitive) To rail at, revile, or scold (someone or something).
8. (obsolete, transitive) To do (something) quickly.

Synonyms

talon

nail

fingernail

💅

scratch

toenail

hoof

clutch

scrape

nipper

tear

chela

pincers

pincer

hook

🪝

claw-shaped

paw

finger

climb

break

grab

jaw

toe

grasp

grate

clapperclaw

grip

fang

rip

destroy

finger nail

clamber

scramble

pair of tongs

pawl

pincher

pliers

pounce

rake

rasp

savage

scarify

seam

sharp point

shave

skin

spur

stick

strum

tickle

tongs

Translations

griffe

garra

artiglio

Kralle

Klaue

klauw

garra

kratzen

graffiare

ongle

uña

💅

pince

serre

zerreißen

Pronounced as (IPA)

/klɔː/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: clawe

Inherited from Old English: clawu

Cognate with Western Frisian: klau

Cognate with Dutch: klauw

Cognate with German: Klaue

Cognate with Danish: klo

Cognate with Norwegian: klo

Cognate with Swedish: klo

Inherited from Middle English: clawen

Inherited from Old English: clawan

In summary

From Middle English clawe, from Old English clawu, from Proto-Germanic *klawō. Compare West Frisian klau, Dutch klauw, German Klaue, Danish klo, Norwegian klo, and Swedish klo.