n. & v.
n. 1 a foot of an animal having claws or nails. 2 colloq. a person's hand.
v. 1 tr. strike or scrape with a paw or foot. 2 intr. scrape the ground with a paw or hoof. 3 tr. colloq. fondle awkwardly or indecently.
[ ME pawe, powe f. OF poue etc. ult. f. Frank. ]