[claw] n, often attrib [ME clawe, fr. OE clawu hoof, claw; akin to ON klo claw, and prob. to OE cliewen ball--more at clew] (bef. 12c) 1: a sharp usu. slender and curved nail on the toe of an animal
2: any of various sharp curved processes esp. at the end of a limb (as of an insect); also: a limb ending in such a process
3: one of the pincerlike organs terminating some limbs of various arthropods (as a lobster or scorpion)
4: something that resembles a claw; specif: the forked end of a tool (as a hammer) -- clawed adj -- claw.like adj
[2]claw vt (bef. 12c): to rake, seize, dig, or progress with or as if with claws ~ vi: to scrape, scratch, dig, or pull with or as if with claws