Paw Meaning
/pɔː/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe soft foot of a mammal or other animal, generally a quadruped, that has claws or nails; comparable to a human hand or foot.
nounA hand.
Sentence Examples
I don't want to be made a cat's paw.
The dog gave a yelp when I trod on its paw.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The friendly dog lifted its ____ to shake hands with the visitor.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The dog lifted its ____ and placed it gently on the child's knee as if offering comfort.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English pawe, from Old French poue, poe, from Vulgar Latin *pauta. Further origin unknown, perhaps from Frankish *pōta, from Frankish *pōtōn (“to put, stick, plant”), from Proto-Germanic *putōną, whence also Old English potian (“to push”), pȳtan (“to put out, poke out”). See more at put. Doublet of pote, put, and putt. Cognate with Dutch poot, poten (“to plant”), Low German Pote, German Pfote, Icelandic pota (“to stick”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Mrs. Hauksbee laid her hand lightly upon the ungloved paw that rested on the turned-backed ’rickshaw hood, and, looking the man full in the face, said tenderly, almost too tenderly, “I believe in you if you mistrust yourself.”"
— 1889, Rudyard Kipling, “The Education of Otis Yeere”, in Under the Deodars, Boston: The Greenock Press, published 1899, page 35:
"Abel smiled broadly and proffered his hamlike paw to the chief […]"
— 1935, The American Magazine:
"He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Job 39:21:
"IronMan used to be good in this way, back in the '80s. […] They wouldn't subscribe to the old, "Let's put a male bodybuilder with silicone babes pawing him" cover that's mainstay now."
— 1997 August 17, Robert Spector, misc.fitness.weights (Usenet):
"So, Katherine was out with Luke and they were both quite dolled up and swoon-worthy. Katherine fawned all over Luke and pawed him, but to what end? Was Stefan supposed to believe that Luke and Katherine have some sort of a thing going? What was the point of this display from Katherine's perspective?"
— 1997 October 26, Amy McWilliams, quoting Verbotene, rec.arts.tv.soaps.abc (Usenet):
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The friendly dog lifted its ____ to shake hands with the visitor.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The dog lifted its ____ and placed it gently on the child's knee as if offering comfort.