rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryclawSharp nail and its use
noun / verb

claw

KLAW/klɔː/

A sharp, curved nail used for gripping or scratching.

The cat's claws grip the bark.

Close-up of a cat's forepaw gripping a small piece of bark, with sharp curved claws visibly emerging from the toes.
Etymology
clawOld Englishclaw, talon, iron hook

Old English clawu already named an animal’s claw or talon and could also mean an iron hook. Those meanings share the hooked shape retained in the modern animal sense.

In context

Kyle Hill3:12
this results in a curved cone-like or conical-shaped claw that develops from the inside out and here is the real heart of the biological misconception that humans have about cat claws
The Real Reason Cat Claws Are So Sharp

More examples

  • The eagle's claws closed around the branch.
  • She clawed at the tangled rope.
  • A sharp claw scratched the wood.

Forms

claw · claws · clawed · clawing

Similar words

talon
Usually the claw of a bird of prey.
nail
The broader hard tip on a digit, often flatter.