-
Claw
A claw is a curved, pointed appendage, found at the end of a toe or finger in most amniotes (mammals, reptiles, birds).
Some invertebrates such as beetles and spiders have somewhat similar fine hooked structures at the end of the leg or tarsus for gripping a surface as the creature walks. Crabs’, lobsters’ and scorpions’ pincers, or more formally, their chelae, are sometimes called claws.
A true claw is made of hard protein called keratin. Claws are used to catch and hold prey in carnivorous mammals such as cats and dogs, but may also be used for such purposes as digging, climbing trees, self-defense, and grooming, in those and other species.
Similar appendages that are flat and do not come to a sharp point are called nails instead. Claw-like projections that do not form at the end of digits, but spring from other parts of the foot are properly named spurs.
-
Claw (noun)
A curved, pointed horny nail on each digit of the foot of a mammal, reptile, or bird.
-
Claw (noun)
A foot equipped with such.
-
Claw (noun)
The pincer (chela) of a crustacean or other arthropod.
-
Claw (noun)
A mechanical device resembling a claw, used for gripping or lifting.
-
Claw (noun)
A slender appendage or process, formed like a claw, such as the base of petals of the pink.
-
Claw (noun)
The act of catching a ball overhand.
-
Claw (verb)
To scratch or to tear at.
-
Claw (verb)
To use the claws to seize, to grip.
-
Claw (verb)
To use the claws to climb.
-
Claw (verb)
To perform a claw catch.
-
Claw (verb)
To move with one’s fingertips.
-
Claw (verb)
To relieve uneasy feeling, such as an itch, by scratching; hence, to humor or flatter, to court someone.
-
Claw (verb)
To rail at; to scold.
-
Claw (verb)
To flatter; to fawn on (a person).
-
Talon (noun)
A sharp, hooked claw of a bird of prey or other predatory animal.
-
Talon (noun)
One of certain small prominences on the hind part of the face of an elephant’s tooth.
-
Talon (noun)
A kind of moulding, concave at the bottom and convex at the top; an ogee. (When the concave part is at the top, it is called an inverted talon.)
-
Talon (noun)
The shoulder of the bolt of a lock on which the key acts to shoot the bolt.
-
Talon (noun)
In the card game bezique, the remaining stock of undealt cards.
-
Claw (noun)
a curved pointed horny nail on each digit of the foot in birds, lizards, and some mammals.
-
Claw (noun)
either of a pair of small hooked appendages on an insect’s foot.
-
Claw (noun)
the pincer of a crab, scorpion, or other arthropod.
-
Claw (noun)
a mechanical device resembling a claw, used for gripping or lifting.
-
Claw (verb)
scratch or tear something with the claws or the fingernails
“the kitten was clawing at Lowell’s trouser leg”
“her hands clawed his shoulders”
-
Claw (verb)
clutch at something with the hands
“his fingers clawed at the air”
-
Claw (verb)
make one’s way with difficulty by hauling oneself forward with one’s hands
“she was determined to claw her way out of poverty and find fame”
“he clawed his way over a pile of bricks”
-
Claw (verb)
try desperately to move or remove something with the hands
“rescuers clawed away rubble with their bare hands”
-
Claw (verb)
scratch (a part of one’s body) gently so as to relieve itching.
-
Claw (verb)
(of a sailing ship) beat to windward
“the ability to claw off a lee shore”
-
Talon (noun)
a claw, especially one belonging to a bird of prey
“the mouse wouldn’t have stood much chance against the peregrine’s talons”
“the black talons of mechanized war”
-
Talon (noun)
the part of a bolt against which the key presses to slide it in a lock.
-
Talon (noun)
(in various card games) the cards that have not yet been dealt.
-
Talon (noun)
a printed form attached to a bearer bond that enables the holder to apply for a new sheet of coupons when the existing coupons have been used up.
-
Talon (noun)
an ogee moulding.