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 Words From

• paw·er noun
• un·pawed 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

For instance, in one of several sensory tests, mice from microbe-deficient mothers took longer to notice a small piece of tape stuck to one of their paws.

From Science News

Try your hand at it by selecting dead, dry softwoods like cedar, paw paw, or willow for your drill and board.

From Popular-Science

The team put the mice into boxes and gave their paws a slight electrical shock.

From Singularity Hub 

A dog’s height, coat and paws are important things to consider when choosing a dog for a project, DeMatteo says.

From Science News For Students

This extra contact helps the bear hold on as it releases and raises a true paw.

From Science News For Students

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• fondle