claw

plural claws

1. A curved, pointed, horny projection on each digit of the foot of a mammal, reptile, or bird.

   Synonyms: fang

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. colloquialA human fingernail, particularly one extending well beyond the fingertip.
6. biologyA slender appendage or process, formed like a claw, such as the base of petals of the pink.

   a narrow base, as the petals of a Rose, where the claw is very short

   1857, Asa Gray, First Lessons in Botany and Vegetable Physiology

7. artsThe act of catching a ball overhand.
8. graph theoryA tree with one internal vertex and three leaves.

present singular third person claws · participle present clawing · participle past clawed · past clawed

1. To scratch or to tear at.

   Using her hands like windshield wipers, she tried to flick snow away from her mouth. When she clawed at her chest and neck, the crumbs maddeningly slid back onto her face. She grew claustrophobic.

   2012, John Branch, “Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek”, in New York Times

2. To use the claws to seize, to grip.
3. To use the claws to climb.
4. artsTo perform a claw catch.
5. To move with one's fingertips.

   De Gea was United's hero again within seconds of Hernandez's equaliser, diving to his left to claw away Dirk Kuyt's shot as he got on the end of a superb cross from Stewart Downing.

   2011 October 15, Phil McNulty, “Liverpool 1 - 1 Man Utd”, in BBC Sport

6. obsoletetransitiveTo 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.

   To be ſhort, a wretched and curſed generation they be; hypocrites, pretending friendſhip, but they can not skill of plaine dealing and franke ſpeech. Rich men they claw, ſooth up and flatter: the poore they contemne and despiſe.

   1603, Plutarch, “Of the Nouriture and Education of Children”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Philosophie, Commonlie Called, The Morals […], London: […] Arnold Hatfield, →OCLC, page 15

   1 more example

   I cannot hide what I am: I must be sad when I have cause, and smile at no man's jests; eat when I have stomach, and wait for no man's leisure; sleep when I am drowsy, and tend on no man's business; laugh when I am merry, and claw no man in his humour.

   1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]

7. obsoletetransitiveTo rail at, revile, or scold (someone or something).

   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.

   1655, Thomas Fuller, The Church-history of Britain; […], London: […] Iohn Williams […], →OCLC, (please specify |book=I to XI)

8. obsoletetransitiveTo do (something) quickly.

   Do'n't you remember, Sirrah, ſayes one, hovv vve clavv'd it avvay at ſuch a Place! Yes, ye Damn'd Rogue you, cryes t'other, vvhen you vvere ſo drunk you took your Aunt for the Bavvd.

   1667, Francisco de Quevedo Villegas, “The Sixth Vision of Hell”, in R[oger] L[’Estrange], transl., The Visions of Dom Francisco de Quevedo Villegas, […], London: […] H[enry] Herringman […], →OCLC, page 181

plural Claws

1. A surname from Navajo.