paw

¹

[paw]

noun

1. the foot of an animal having claws.

2. the foot of any animal.

3. Informal.,  the human hand, especially one that is large, rough, or clumsy.

   Keep your paws off my property.

verb (used with object)

1. to strike or scrape with the paws or feet.

   a dog pawing the door.

2. Informal.,  to handle or caress clumsily, rudely, or with unwelcome familiarity.

verb (used without object)

1. to beat or scrape the floor, ground, etc., with the paws or feet.

2. Informal.,  to handle or caress someone or something in a clumsy or rude manner or with unwelcome familiarity.

paw

²

[paw]

noun

Informal.

1. father; pa.

paw

/ pɔː /

noun

1. any of the feet of a four-legged mammal, bearing claws or nails

2. informal,  a hand, esp one that is large, clumsy, etc

verb

1. to scrape or contaminate with the paws or feet

2. informal,  (tr) to touch or caress in a clumsy, rough, or overfamiliar manner; maul

Other Word Forms

• pawer noun
• unpawed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of paw¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English pau(w)e, poue, from Middle French po(u)e (cognate with Provençal pauta ), from Germanic; compare Dutch poot, German Pfote

Origin of paw²

First recorded in 1820–30; earlier and dialect pronunciation of pa

Word History and Origins

Origin of paw¹

C13: via Old French from Germanic; related to Middle Dutch pōte, German Pfote

Example Sentences

The jaws of a bear are also capable of crushing bones and a single swipe with their paws can cause serious damage and even kill.

Read more on Barron's

Wind rushed from her mouth, and she held up her paw as if to say, “Hang on a minute.”

Read more on Literature

“He brought warmth, smiles, and comfort to everyone who walked through our doors.... The store won’t be the same without his little paws padding around.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She slapped her front paws on the windowsill and stared into the night to make sure all was well outside.

Read more on Literature

It was real, a “two-hundred-pound tawny-haired lion with golden eyes and soft, round ears and paws the size of baseball mitts.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• fondle