claw /klö/

1. The hooked nail of a bird, mammal or reptile, or the creature's foot with a number of such nails
2. The leg of a crab, insect, etc, or its pointed end or pincer
3. The narrow basal part of a petal (botany)
4. Anything shaped or used like a claw

1. To scratch, tear, scrape, seize (with or as if with a claw or claws)
2. To flatter, fawn on (obsolete)

(often with at) to make an arm movement with the fingers bent into the shape of a claw

clawed adjective

Having claws

clawˈless adjective

clawˈ-and-ballˈ adjective

(of furniture) having feet carved to represent an animal's claw holding a ball (also ballˈ-and-clawˈ)

clawˈback noun

1. An arrangement by which the financial benefit from allowances, etc is partially recouped by the government in extra taxation
2. Extended to other situations where financial outlay is recovered by taxation or penalty

clawed frog or clawed toad noun

An African or S American aquatic frog having claws on three hind toes

clawˈ-foot noun (medicine)

Pes cavus, a deformity of the foot in which the toes are turned under and the arch is exaggerated

claw hammer noun

A hammer with one part of the head divided into two claws, for pulling out nails

clawˈ-hammˈer-coat noun

A facetious name for a dress coat

claw back

To recoup (money) by means of taxation, etc

claw me and I'll claw thee (obsolete)

You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours

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