Claw
/klɔː/noun
A curved, pointed nail on the foot of an animal, or a handlike gripping appendage.
Did you know?English claw likely grew from Old English clawu, and the same ancient root also gave us words like clew and cloven, showing how one old idea of splitting or gripping branched into very different meanings.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gleh₂-
“To split, stick, or adhere; a root associated with grasping or clinging forms.”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*klawō
“A claw or nail; a curved gripping part.”
Old English
OE
clawu
“A claw, talon, or nail; also a finger or toe nail.”
Middle English
ME
clawe
“A claw or talon, especially of a bird or beast.”
Modern English
English
claw
“A curved, pointed nail or a grasping appendage.”