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n. 1. The foot of an animal, especially a quadruped, that has claws or nails. 2. Informal A human hand, especially a large clumsy one: "Lennie dabbled his big paw in the water" (John Steinbeck). v. pawed, paw·ing, paws v.tr. 1. To feel or strike with the paw or paws. 2. To strike or scrape with a beating motion: The bull pawed the ground before charging. 3. a. To touch or handle clumsily or roughly. b. To feel or touch (another) in an annoying or unwanted way. See Synonyms at touch. v.intr. 1. To scrape the ground with the forefeet: The horse pawed restlessly. 2. To handle someone or something clumsily, rudely, or with too much familiarity: Don't paw at everything you see. [Middle English pawe, from Old French powe.] pawer n. |
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