n. & v.
n. 1 a a pointed horny nail on an animal's or bird's foot. b a foot armed with claws. 2 the pincers of a shellfish. 3 a device for grappling, holding, etc.
v. 1 tr. & intr. scratch, maul, or pull (a person or thing) with claws. 2 tr. & intr. Sc. scratch gently. 3 intr. Naut. beat to windward. claw back 1 regain laboriously or gradually. 2 recover (money paid out) from another source (e.g. taxation). claw-back n. 1 the act of clawing back. 2 money recovered in this way. claw-hammer a hammer with one side of the head forked for extracting nails. clawed adj. (also in comb.). clawer n. clawless adj.
[ OE clawu, clawian ]