a curved pointed horny nail on each digit of the foot in birds, lizards, and some mammals.
either of a pair of small hooked appendages on an insect’s foot.
the pincer of a crab, scorpion, or other arthropod.
a mechanical device resembling a claw, used for gripping or lifting.
ზმნა
Universal
1 [no object] scratch or tear something with the claws or the fingernails:the kitten was clawing at Lowell’s trouser leg [with object]:her hands clawed his shoulders
clutch at something with the hands:his fingers clawed at the air
(claw one's way) make one’s way with difficulty by hauling oneself forward with one’s hands:he clawed his way over a pile of bricks figurativeshe was determined to claw her way out of poverty and find fame
[with object] (claw something away) try desperately to move or remove something with the hands:rescuers clawed away rubble with their bare hands
[with object]Scottish scratch (a part of one’s body) gently so as to relieve itching.
2 [no object] Nautical (of a sailing ship) beat to windward:the ability to claw off a lee shore
get one's claws into
informal enter into a possessive relationship with:she’s already got her claws into the handyman
claw something back
1British regain a lost advantage or position laboriously and gradually:a hostile majority were committed to clawing back power from the president
2(of a government) recover money paid out in the form of an allowance or benefit, typically by taxation:the government is trying to claw back the pay rises extracted by workers since deregulation of food prices
