klɔ: 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. øclaw
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. øøclawed adj. (also in comb.). clawer n. clawless adj. [OE clawu, clawian]