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View synonyms for paw

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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Words From

  • paw·er noun
  • un·pawed adjective
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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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of paw1

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

Jimbo sat behind me, and patted me on the back with his heavy tomahawk of a paw.

He then adds a drawing of an animal paw—something officials say his family pointed to as a sign the letter was genuine.

But there are some compelling reasons to view the advantages that ruling gave the GOP in 2010 as something of a monkey's paw.

Innocuous, soporific white guys like Rob Portman and T-Paw became the horses to bet on.

They decide to adopt a stray cat, Paw Paw, in the hopes that it will fill the void in their relationship.

The left heel followed like lightning, and the right paw also slipped, letting the bear again fall heavily on the ice below.

The bear watched him narrowly with its wicked little eyes, though it did not see fit to cease its paw-licking.

The fresh imprint of a tiger's paw upon the pathway gives the same sort of feel to the Indian herdsman.

Bruno was then introduced to each of the scouts, and they seemed to pass muster, for to each one he offered his paw.

But this dog's tail was wagging, certainly, so Jess bent over without fear to look at the paw.

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