Claw (kla̤), n. [AS. clawu, clā, cleó; akin to D. klaauw, G. klaue, Icel. klō, Sw. & Dan. klo, and perh. to E. clew.] 1. A sharp, hooked nail, as of a beast or bird.
2. The whole foot of an animal armed with hooked nails; the pinchers of a lobster, crab, etc.
3. Anything resembling the claw of an animal, as the curved and forked end of a hammer for drawing nails.
4. (Bot.) A slender appendage or process, formed like a claw, as the base of petals of the pink. Gray.
Claw hammer, a hammer with one end of the metallic head cleft for use in extracting nails, etc. — Claw hammer coat, a dress coat of the swallowtail pattern. — Claw sickness, foot rot, a disease affecting sheep.