paw
paw Lexical Profile
paw Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An animal's foot having claws and pads, typically belonging to a quadruped mammal such as a dog, cat, or bear.
"The puppy lifted its front paw to shake hands with the veterinarian."
A person's hand, especially one that is large, clumsy, or used in an overly familiar manner (used informally or humorously).
"Keep your sticky paws off the freshly frosted birthday cake until the guests arrive."
• verb
To feel, scrape, or strike with a paw or hoof (of an animal).
"The impatient stallion began to paw the ground outside the stable door."
To touch or handle someone or something clumsily, roughly, or with unwelcome familiarity.
"Shoppers were asked not to paw through the delicate silk garments on the display table."
• Rhymes for paw
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed into Middle English as 'paue' from Old French 'poe' or 'poue', which is of West Germanic origin and related to Middle Dutch 'pote' and Low German 'pote', meaning 'paw'.