paw
nounverbnounattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//pɔː(ɹ)//
- United States//pɔ//
- Australia//poː(ɹ)//
- //pɑ//
The soft foot of a mammal or other animal, generally a quadruped, that has claws or nails; comparable to a human hand or foot.
noun
- 1
The soft foot of a mammal or other animal, generally a quadruped, that has claws or nails; comparable to a human hand or foot.
- 2
slangA hand.
Get your grubby paws off my things!
Mrs. Hauksbee laid her hand lightly upon the ungloved paw that rested on the turned-backed ’rickshaw hood, and, looking the man full in the face, said tenderly, almost too tenderly, “I believe in you if you mistrust yourself.”
Abel smiled broadly and proffered his hamlike paw to the chief […]
Etymology
From Middle English pawe, from Old French poue, poe, from Vulgar Latin *pauta. Further origin unknown, perhaps from Frankish *pōta, from Frankish *pōtōn (“to put, stick, plant”), from Proto-Germanic *putōną, whence also Old English potian (“to push”), pȳtan (“to put out, poke out”). See more at put. Doublet of pote, put, and putt. Cognate with Dutch poot, poten (“to plant”), Low German Pote, German Pfote, Icelandic pota (“to stick”).
verb
- 1
Of an animal, to touch (something) with a paw. Of an animal, to dig through (something, such as a garbage can) with paws.
- 2
Of an animal, to touch (something) with a paw. Of an animal, to draw the forefoot along the ground; to beat or scrape with the forefoot.
He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.
- 3
To touch (someone) in a sexual way.
IronMan used to be good in this way, back in the '80s. […] They wouldn't subscribe to the old, "Let's put a male bodybuilder with silicone babes pawing him" cover that's mainstay now.
So, Katherine was out with Luke and they were both quite dolled up and swoon-worthy. Katherine fawned all over Luke and pawed him, but to what end? Was Stefan supposed to believe that Luke and Katherine have some sort of a thing going? What was the point of this display from Katherine's perspective?
Subtlety is great, but what exactly happened with Jessica and the cop during sex that he locked her up afterwards? Also, what was the item she nicked from his shirt while she pawed him?
Tonight there are no drug deals, no fights, only the random foolishness of the young and inebriated. They stagger with linked arms down the middle of the street. They paw at each other.
- 4
To clumsily dig (through something).
- 5
datedTo flatter.
noun
- 1
Variant of paAlternative form of pa (“father”).
Etymology
The word probably has an origin in baby talk. See pa.
Forms
- plural
- paws
- past tense
- pawed
- past participle
- pawed
- present participle
- pawing
- third person singular
- paws
paw · The soft foot of a mammal or other animal, generally a quadruped, that has claws or nails; comparable to a human hand or foot.
pawn · The state of being held as security for a loan, or as a…pawnee · One or to whom a pledge is delivered as security one who…Pawnee · A near-extinct language of North America.