claw / klô/ • n. 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 leg. ∎  the pincer of a crab, scorpion, or other arthropod. ∎  a mechanical device resembling a claw, used for gripping or lifting.• v. 1. [intr.] (of an animal or person) scratch or tear something with the claws or the fingernails: the kitten was clawing at Lowell's trouser leg [tr.] 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. ∎  [tr.] (claw something away) try desperately to move or remove something with the hands.2. [intr.] (of a sailing ship) beat to windward: the ability to claw off a lee shore.DERIVATIVES: clawed adj. [often in comb.] a short-clawed otter. claw·less adj.

claw sb. OE. clawu (new formation on the obl. cases, the orig. nom. being *clēa, whence ME. and dial. clee) = OS. clāuua, OHG. klāwa (G. klaue) :- WGmc. *klāwō.
Hence claw vb. OE. clawian = MLG. klāwen, OHG. klāwēn.