Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - paw

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French powe, poe  Date: 14th century  1. the foot of a quadruped (as a lion or dog) that has claws; broadly the foot of an animal  2. a human hand especially when large or clumsy  II. verb  Date: 15th century  transitive verb  1. to touch or strike at with a ~  2. to feel or touch clumsily, rudely, or sexually  3. to scrape or beat with or as if with a hoof  4. to flail at or grab for wildly  intransitive verb  1. to beat or scrape something with or as if with a hoof  2. to touch or strike with a ~  3. to feel or touch someone or something clumsily, rudely, or sexually  4. to flail or grab wildly  5. to search especially carelessly or roughly ~ed through the box of discount items