paw

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paw / / • n. an animal's foot having claws and pads. ∎ chiefly derog. a person's hand: touch her with your filthy paws and I'll ram my fist into your face.• v. [tr.] (of an animal) feel or scrape with a paw or hoof: the horse rose on its strong haunches, its forelegs pawing the air | [intr.] young dogs may paw at the floor and whine. ∎ inf. (of a person) touch or handle awkwardly or roughly: he had pawed his way through a copious meal. ∎  (of a person) touch (someone) in a lascivious and offensive way: some overweight, ugly Casanova had tried to paw her.