claw

claw (klô)

noun

a sharp, hooked or curved horny structure, or nail, on the foot of a bird and of many reptiles and mammals
a foot with such structures at its end
the pincers, or chela, of a lobster, crab, scorpion, etc., or on the limb of certain insects
anything resembling or regarded as a claw the claw of a hammer

Etymology: ME claue < OE clawu < IE *g(e)l-eu- < base *gel-, to make round, clench (as a fist) > cling, clamp, climb

transitive verb, intransitive verb

to scratch, clutch, pull, dig, or tear with or as with claws

clawed (klôd) adjective

talon, hook, nail, pincers, chela, tentacle, spur, fang, paw, grappling iron, grappling hook, forked end, clutching hand, nipper, grapnel, crook, barb, fingernail, dewclaw, cant hook, tack claw, nail claw, manus, ungula, unguis.

tear, scratch, rip open; see break 1, cut 2, hurt 1, rip.

Object

crayfish: Possible Species: Bats, Barn Owl, Badger, Otter, Water Voles, Great Crested Newts, White clawed crayfish, Skylarks.
frog: Xenopus laevis - scientific name for the African clawed frog, one of the model organisms used to study vertebrate development.
deficit: Sylvia also drew up a recovery plan to try and claw back the deficit and reduce the level of staff absenteeism.
toe: Clawing toes, high arch, varus hindfoot, some calf wasting.

Converse of object

overgrow: The causes for overgrown claws are often quite simple.
sharpen: Everything a cat could want for a day or night spent hiding, sleeping and sharpening those claws.
crush: The biggest crushing claw of a lobster ever found was calculated to have been from a specimen that weighed about 9.3 kg.

Adjective modifier

dexter: CREST: On a Wreath Or and Vert a Finch proper resting the dexter claw on an Escutcheon Or changed with a Fleur-de-Lys Gules.
sharp: You've got sharp claws, my dear, you drop your scales on my clean floor.

Modifies a noun

hammer: A claw hammer is probably the best for general DIY.
clasp: Wish List £ 75.00 Sterling Silver Heart Drop Necklace Cute sterling silver heart necklace with lobster claw clasp.
toe: In the case of a mallet toe, trigger toe or claw toe.

Noun used with modifier

'calcium: Information: Q My husband is suffering from a 'calcium claw ' on the heel of his foot.
lobster: Wish List £ 75.00 Sterling Silver Heart Drop Necklace Cute sterling silver heart necklace with lobster claw clasp.
dew: The holes ( arrowed ) are made by the dew claws which are often seen in soft mud.
crab: A few crab claws also came from the midden.
tiger: Along the way we spotted a tree where there were very visible tiger claw marks showing it had been used as a scratching post!

Possessives

devil: Devil's claw A stretching screw with two heavy books or claws.

Preposition: of

lobster: The biggest crushing claw of a lobster ever found was calculated to have been from a specimen that weighed about 9.3 kg.
crab: Within seconds they were flanking the JEV windows like the claws of a crab.

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