talon

American  

[tal-uhn] / ˈtæl ən /

noun

1. a claw, especially of a bird of prey.

2. the shoulder on the bolt of a lock against which the key presses in sliding the bolt.

3. Cards. the cards left over after the deal; stock.

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talon British  

/ ˈtælən /

noun

1. a sharply hooked claw, esp of a bird of prey

2. anything resembling a bird's claw

3. the part of a lock that the key presses on when it is turned

4. cards the pile of cards left after the deal

5. architect another name for ogee

6. stock exchange a printed slip attached to some bearer bonds to enable the holder to apply for a new sheet of coupons

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talon Scientific  

/ tăl′ən /

1. One of the sharp, curved claws on a limb of a bird or other animal such as a lizard, used for seizing and tearing prey. Most talons are situated at the ends of digits.

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Other Word Forms

• taloned adjective
• untaloned adjective

Etymology

Origin of talon

1350–1400; Middle English taloun < Anglo-French; Old French talon < Vulgar Latin *tālōn-, stem of *tālō, for Latin tālus heel

Example Sentences

A crow swooped down and yanked the hood from Clare’s head, her talons raking the flesh of his snout.

From Literature

A red kite carrying what appears to be a sausage roll in its talons has been captured on camera by an amateur photographer.

From BBC

Still her talon traced the spiral: drawing Torak down into the past.

From Literature

Swooping down upon him with sharp talons thrusting out was a large bird covered mainly in white feathers except for its back, which was decidedly black.

From Literature

I try to squirm away from my sister’s grasp, but her fingers sink into my skin like talons.

From Literature