claw

—clawer, n. —clawless, adj.

/klaw/, n.

1. a sharp, usually curved, nail on the foot of an animal, as on a cat, dog, or bird.

2. a similar curved process at the end of the leg of an insect.

3. the pincerlike extremity of specific limbs of certain arthropods: lobster claws.

4. any part or thing resembling a claw, as the cleft end of the head of a hammer.

5. Typography. the hooklike projection from the right side of an r or from the bowl of a g.

6. (in a motion-picture mechanism) a device having one or two teeth that hook into the perforations of a length of film and move it one frame at a time at any given speed.

7. Jewelry. one of a group of slender, tapering metal projections rising from the base of a jewelry setting, used to hold a transparent or faceted gemstone in position. Cf. prong (def. 4).

v.t.

8. to tear, scratch, seize, pull, etc., with or as if with claws: The kitten clawed my sweater to shreds.

9. to make by or as if by scratching, digging, etc., with hands or claws: to claw a hole in the earth.

10. to proceed by or as if by using the hands: He clawed his way through the crowd.

v.i.

11. to scratch, tear, or dig with or as if with claws: The cat clawed and hissed in fear.

12. to make fumbling motions: He clawed at the door. She clawed for the light switch.

13. Scot. to scratch gently, as to relieve itching.

[bef. 900; (n.) ME; OE clawu; c. OHG chlo(a), akin to D klauw, G Klaue; (v.) ME clawen, OE claw(i)an, deriv. of clawu (n.); akin to D klauwen, G klauen]

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▪ anatomy

also called  Talon,  

      narrow, arched structure that curves downward from the end of the digit in birds, reptiles, many mammals, and some amphibians. It is a hardened (keratinized) modification of the epidermis. Claws may be adapted for scratching, clutching, digging, or climbing. By analogy, the appendages of other lower animals are frequently called claws. The claw's shape is ordinarily suited to the food-getting habit of the animal. Eagles have long, curved talons for grasping prey; the claws of chickens are short and sturdy, for scratching the ground for food.

      There are two mammalian modifications of the claw: the nail and the hoof. A nail is a broad, flat claw on the upper surface of the digit. It is present in mammals, such as primates, that use their appendages for grasping. A hoof is a short, thick structure that surrounds the end of the digit. It is present in various forms in the ungulates, which have a reduced number of digits. Hoofs are an adaptation for running.

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