Talon and Ankle Come From the Same Root
A talon is a bird of prey's claw. The word originally meant a heel, which explains its unlikely relatives.
A talon is the sharp hooked claw of a bird of prey. Latin *talus* meant an ankle or heel bone, and Old French *talon* meant a heel — the sense shifted to the whole claw once English applied it to birds. The ankle bone is still called the *talus* in anatomy, and *talon* remains French for heel. A talon is not the same as an ordinary claw: the word is reserved for raptors, whose claws are hunting weapons rather than tools for digging.
- A raptor's claw. *An eagle's talons.*
- Talus — the ankle bone. *The talus.*
- Claw — the general word. *A cat's claw.*
- French — *talon*, a heel. *The source.*
- Latin — *talus*, ankle. *The root.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | talon | A talon. |
| Plural | talons | Talons. |
| Adjective | taloned | Taloned. |
| Anatomy | talus | The talus. |
| French | talon | A heel. |
- The eagle gripped with its talons.Bird.
- The talus is the ankle bone.Anatomy.
- Talon means heel in French.Etymology.
Talons, claws and nails
- Talon — a raptor's claw, used for killing and gripping
- Claw — the general term for any curved nail
- Nail — flat, as in primates
- Hoof — a thickened nail bearing the whole foot
- All are made of keratin, the same protein as hair
Old French *talon*, a heel, from Latin *talus*, the ankle or heel bone.
What is the difference between a talon and a claw?
Talon is reserved for birds of prey, whose claws are hunting weapons. Claw is the general term.
Why does talon relate to heels?
The French word means heel, from Latin talus, the ankle bone. English narrowed it to a bird's claw.