A Claw Hammer Is Named for the Animal Part
A claw is a curved nail on an animal's foot. Tools borrowed the name for anything shaped to grip or pull.
A claw is a curved pointed nail on the foot of an animal or bird. Tools took the name for the same shape doing the same job: a *claw hammer* has a split curved end for pulling nails, and a *claw* on a crane or arcade machine grips like a talon. The word names a function as much as a form. A cat's claws are retractable, sheathed when walking so they stay sharp; a dog's are not, which is why dogs click on hard floors.
- An animal's curved nail. *A cat's claws.*
- A crab's pincer. *A crab claw.*
- A tool's gripping end. *A claw hammer.*
- To scratch. *Clawed at the door.*
- Old English — *clawu*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | claw | A claw. |
| Plural | claws | Claws. |
| Verb | claw | Clawing. |
| Compound | claw hammer | A claw hammer. |
| Related | talon | A talon. |
- The cat sharpened its claws.Animal.
- Use the claw hammer to pull it.Tool.
- They clawed their way back.Figurative.
Claws, nails and talons
- Claw — the general word for a curved animal nail
- Talon — used specifically of birds of prey
- Nail — the flat human and primate form
- Hoof — a single thickened nail bearing the whole foot
- Cats retract theirs, dogs do not, which is why dogs click on tile
Old English *clawu*, of Germanic origin, related to Dutch *klauw* and German *Klaue*.
Why is it called a claw hammer?
The split curved end grips and pulls nails the way a claw grips, so the tool took the animal's name.
Why do dog claws click on floors?
Dogs cannot retract their claws. Cats sheathe theirs while walking, which also keeps them sharp.