claw

noun

• 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.

verb

• 1 [no object] (of an animal or person) scratch or tear something with the claws or the fingernails:the kitten was clawing at Lowell’s trouser leg figurativebitter jealousy clawed at her [with object]: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:he clawed his way over a pile of bricks
• [with object] (claw something away) try desperately to move or remove something with the hands:rescuers clawed away rubble with their bare hands

• 2 [no object] (of a sailing ship) beat to windward:the ability to claw off a lee shore