Pawing
/ˈpɔː.ɪŋ/noun
The act of touching, handling, or rubbing with the paw or with the hands in a clumsy, persistent way.
Did you know?English paw is a true animal word, and pawing preserves that ancient sense of a creature’s rough, physical contact rather than anything polished or civilized.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ped-
“foot”
Latin
Latin
pes, pedis
“foot”
Old French
Old French
pied
“foot”
Middle English
English
pawe, paw
“the foot of an animal, especially a beast of prey”
Modern English
English
pawing
“touching or handling with the paw; rubbing or feeling with the hands in a clumsy or persistent way”