# claw

> English word · Noun · IPA /klɔ/ · frequency rank #13,116

## Definitions
1. A curved, pointed, horny projection on each digit of the foot of a mammal, reptile, or bird.
2. A foot equipped with such.
3. The pincer (chela) of a crustacean or other arthropod.
4. A mechanical device resembling a claw, used for gripping or lifting.
5. A human fingernail, particularly one extending well beyond the fingertip.
6. A slender appendage or process, formed like a claw, such as the base of petals of the pink.
7. The act of catching a ball overhand.
8. A tree with one internal vertex and three leaves.

## Etymology
From Middle English clawe, from Old English clawu, from Proto-Germanic *klawō. Compare West Frisian klau, Dutch klauw, German Klaue, Danish klo, Norwegian klo, and Swedish klo.

## Easily confused with
- **CW** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/claw-vs-cw)
- **cow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/claw-vs-cow)
- **CPA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/claw-vs-cpa)
- **CSA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/claw-vs-csa)
- **coa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/claw-vs-coa)
- **CMA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/claw-vs-cma)
- **CTA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/claw-vs-cta)
- **CLP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/claw-vs-clp)
- **CLC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/claw-vs-clc)
- **Clo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/claw-vs-clo)
- **club** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/claw-vs-club)
- **crew** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/claw-vs-crew)
- **coal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/claw-vs-coal)
- **crap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/claw-vs-crap)
- **coat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/claw-vs-coat)
- **clay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/claw-vs-clay)
- **clip** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/claw-vs-clip)
- **clue** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/claw-vs-clue)
- **crow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/claw-vs-crow)
- **crab** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/claw-vs-crab)

## Common misspellings (6)
`calw`, `cclaw`, `claww`, `cllaw`, `clwa`, `lcaw`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/claw