Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Claw
Claw
(kla̤)
, Noun.
[AS.
clawu
, clā
, cleó
; akin to D. klaauw
, G. klaue
, Icel. klō
, Sw. & Dan. klo
, and perh. to E. clew
.] 1.
A sharp, hooked nail, as of a beast or bird.
2.
The whole foot of an animal armed with hooked nails; the pinchers of a lobster, crab, etc.
3.
Anything resembling the claw of an animal, as the curved and forked end of a hammer for drawing nails.
4.
(Bot.)
A slender appendage or process, formed like a claw, as the base of petals of the pink.
Gray.
Claw hammer
, a hammer with one end of the metallic head cleft for use in extracting nails, etc.
– Claw hammer coat
, a dress coat of the swallowtail pattern.
[Slang]
– Claw sickness
, foot rot, a disease affecting sheep.
Claw
(kla̤)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Clawed
(kla̤d)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Clawing
.] 1.
To pull, tear, or scratch with, or as with, claws or nails.
2.
To relieve from some uneasy sensation, as by scratching; to tickle; hence, to flatter; to court.
[Obs.]
Rich men they
claw
, soothe up, and flatter; the poor they contemn and despise. Holland.
3.
To rail at; to scold.
[Obs.]
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. T. Fuller
Claw me, claw thee
, stand by me and I will stand by you; – an old proverb.
Tyndale.
To claw away
, to scold or revile.
“The jade Fortune is to be clawed away for it, if you should lose it.” L’Estrange.
To claw (one) on the back
, to tickle; to express approbation.
(Obs.)
Chaucer.
To claw (one) on the gall
, to find fault with; to vex.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.
Claw
,Verb.
I.
To scrape, scratch, or dig with a claw, or with the hand as a claw.
“Clawing [in ash barrels] for bits of coal.” W. D. Howells.
To claw off
(Naut.)
, to turn to windward and beat, to prevent falling on a lee shore.
Webster 1828 Edition
Claw
CLAW
, n.1.
The sharp hooked nail of a beast, bird or other animal.Every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud--ye shall eat. Deut. 14.
His nails were grown like birds claws. Dan. 4.
2.
The whole foot of an animal armed with hooked nails.3.
The hand, in contempt.CLAW
, v.t.1.
To pull, tear or scratch with the nails.2.
To scratch or tear in general; to tickle.3.
To flatter.To claw off or away,
1.
To scold or rail at.2.
In seamanship, to turn to windward and beat, to prevent falling on a lee shore.3.
In vulgar language, to scratch away; to get off or escape.