Definitions for: Claw


[n] a bird's foot that has claws
[n] sharp curved horny process on the toe of a bird or some mammals or reptiles
[n] a structure like a pincer on the limb of a crustacean or other arthropods
[n] a mechanical device that is curved or bent to suspend or hold or pull something
[v] attack as if with claws; "The politician clawed his rival"
[v] clutch as if in panic; "She clawed the doorknob"
[v] scratch, scrape, pull, or dig with claws or nails
[v] move as if by clawing, seizing, or digging; "They clawed their way to the top of the mountain"



Webster (1913) Definition: Claw, n. [AS. clawu, cl[=a], cle['o]; akin to D. klaauw,
G. Klaue, Icel. kl[=o], SW. & Dan. klo, and perh. to E.
clew.]
1. A sharp, hooked nail, as of a beast or bird.

2. The whole foot of an animal armed with hooked nails; the
pinchers of a lobster, crab, etc.

3. Anything resembling the claw of an animal, as the curved
and forked end of a hammer for drawing nails.

4. (Bot.) A slender appendage or process, formed like a claw,
as the base of petals of the pink. --Gray.

Claw hammer, a hammer with one end of the metallic head
cleft for use in extracting nails, etc.

Claw hammer coat, a dress coat of the swallowtail pattern.
[Slang]

Claw sickness, foot rot, a disease affecting sheep.


Claw (kl[add]), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clawed (kl[add]d);
p. pr. & vb. n. Clawing.] [AS. clawan. See Claw, n.]
1. To pull, tear, or scratch with, or as with, claws or
nails.

2. To relieve from some uneasy sensation, as by scratching;
to tickle; hence, to flatter; to court. [Obs.]

Rich men they claw, soothe up, and flatter; the poor
they contemn and despise. --Holland.

3. To rail at; to scold. [Obs.]

In the aforesaid preamble, the king fairly claweth
the great monasteries, wherein, saith he, religion,
thanks be to God, is right well kept and observed;
though he claweth them soon after in another
acceptation. --T. Fuller

Claw me, claw thee, stand by me and I will stand by you; --
an old proverb. --Tyndale.

To claw away, to scold or revile. ``The jade Fortune is to
be clawed away for it, if you should lose it.''
--L'Estrange.

To claw (one) on the back, to tickle; to express
approbation. (Obs.) --Chaucer.

To claw (one) on the gall, to find fault with; to vex.
[Obs.] --Chaucer.


Claw, v. i.
To scrape, scratch, or dig with a claw, or with the hand as a
claw. ``Clawing [in ash barrels] for bits of coal.'' --W. D.
Howells.

To claw off (Naut.), to turn to windward and beat, to
prevent falling on a lee shore.

Synonyms: chela, hook, nipper, pincer

See Also: anchor, appendage, assail, assault, attack, bear claw, bird's foot, clapperclaw, clothes hanger, clutch, coat hanger, crustacean, dress hanger, extremity, grapnel, grapple, grappler, grappling hook, grappling iron, ground tackle, horny structure, lash out, make, mechanical device, member, pothook, prehend, round, scrape, scratch, scratch up, seize, snipe, talon, tenterhook, unguis, work

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