talon
talon Lexical Profile
talon Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A sharp, hooked claw belonging to a bird of prey or a predatory animal.
"The osprey gripped the freshly caught trout firmly in its curved talons as it flew back to its nest."
In card games, the stack of undealt playing cards remaining after the hands have been dealt, from which players draw.
"After dealing seven cards to each player, she placed the rest of the deck face down to form the talon."
In finance, a detachable certificate attached to a bearer bond that entitles the holder to receive a new sheet of interest coupons once the original coupons are exhausted.
"The bondholder submitted the talon to the issuing bank in order to obtain a fresh sheet of coupon vouchers."
• Rhymes for talon
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Old French 'talon' (meaning 'heel'), which comes from Vulgar Latin '*talo', derived from Classical Latin 'talus' ('anklebone' or 'heel'). In English, the sense shifted from the hind toe or heel of a bird of prey to its curved, sharp claw.