paw 1
— pawer , n.
/paw/ , n.
1. the foot of an animal having claws.
2. the foot of any animal.
3. Informal. the human hand, esp. one that is large, rough, or clumsy: Keep your paws off my property.
v.t.
4. to strike or scrape with the paws or feet: a dog pawing the door.
5. Informal. to handle or caress clumsily, rudely, or with unwelcome familiarity.
v.i.
6. to beat or scrape the floor, ground, etc., with the paws or feet.
7. Informal. to handle or caress someone or something in a clumsy or rude manner or with unwelcome familiarity.
[ 1300-50; ME pawe, var. of powe poue (c. Pr pauta ) poot, G Pfote ]
paw 2
/paw/ , n. Informal.
father; pa.
[ 1900-05, Amer.; earlier and dial. pron. of PA, reflecting the now lapsed constraint against a maximally open back vowel in an open stressed final syll. ]