noun.
. In zoöl.:
noun.
A sharp, hooked, horny end of the limb of a mammal, bird, reptile, or other animal; a pointed and especially a curved nail of a vertebrate, consisting of thickened and hardened epidermal tissue, like horn, borne usually on a bony basis or core; technically, an unguis, as distinguished from a hoof or ungula.
noun.
A sharp, hooked end of a limb of an animal, of whatever character.
noun.
The whole leg, foot, or other appendage of certain animals, terminating in a sharp hooked end or in a pincer-like extremity; a chela, cheliped, or chelicera, as in insects, arachnidans, crustaceans, etc. See cuts under chela, chelicera, and scorpion.
noun.
Some part of an animal resembling or likened to a claw.
noun.
2. Figuratively, the human hand; hence, in the plural, grasp; clutch; hold: as, to get one's claws on a thing.
noun.
In mech., some part of a tool or tackle resembling a claw: as, the claw or cleft end of a hammer, used in drawing out nails; the claw of a crowbar; the claw of a grapnel.
noun.
In botany, the narrow base of a petal, especially when it is long, as in the pink and wallflower.
noun.
In locksmithing, a spur or talon which projects from a bolt or tumbler.
To tear, scratch, pull, or seize with or as if with claws or talons.
To scratch; relieve by or as if by scratching; scratch, as an itching part, with intent to relieve irritation.
undefined
3. To fawn on.
To make or affect by the use of a claw or claws of some sort: as, to claw a hole in a carpet; to claw up a heap of dirt; to claw the leaves away.
To get rid of.
. Nautical, to beat to windward, in order to avoid falling on a lee shore or on another vessel: with off; hence, figuratively, to get off; escape: as, to claw off from, an embarrassing situation.
To fawn; flatter.