— clawer , n. — clawless , adj.
/klaw/ , n.
1. a sharp, usually curved, nail on the foot of an animal, as on a cat, dog, or bird.
2. a similar curved process at the end of the leg of an insect.
3. the pincerlike extremity of specific limbs of certain arthropods: lobster claws.
4. any part or thing resembling a claw, as the cleft end of the head of a hammer.
5. Typography. the hooklike projection from the right side of an r or from the bowl of a g.
6. (in a motion-picture mechanism) a device having one or two teeth that hook into the perforations of a length of film and move it one frame at a time at any given speed.
7. Jewelry. one of a group of slender, tapering metal projections rising from the base of a jewelry setting, used to hold a transparent or faceted gemstone in position. Cf. prong (def. 4).
v.t.
8. to tear, scratch, seize, pull, etc., with or as if with claws: The kitten clawed my sweater to shreds.
9. to make by or as if by scratching, digging, etc., with hands or claws: to claw a hole in the earth.
10. to proceed by or as if by using the hands: He clawed his way through the crowd.
v.i.
11. to scratch, tear, or dig with or as if with claws: The cat clawed and hissed in fear.
12. to make fumbling motions: He clawed at the door. She clawed for the light switch.
13. Scot. to scratch gently, as to relieve itching.
[ bef. 900; (n.) ME; OE clawu; c. OHG chlo ( a ), akin to D klauw, G Klaue; (v.) ME clawen, OE claw ( i ) an, deriv. of clawu (n.); akin to D klauwen, G klauen ]