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Claw vs Fang - What's the difference?

claw | fang |

As nouns the difference between claw and fang

is that claw is a curved, pointed horny nail on each digit of the foot of a mammal, reptile, or bird while fang is a grasping; capture; the act or power of seizing; hold.

As verbs the difference between claw and fang

is that claw is to scratch or to tear at while fang is to catch, capture; seize; grip; clutch; lay hold of.

As a proper noun Fang is

collective A people of western Africa.

claw

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) clawe, from (etyl) clawu, from (etyl) . Compare West Frisian klau, Dutch klauw, German Klaue, Danish klo.

Noun

(en noun)
  • A curved, pointed horny nail on each digit of the foot of a mammal, reptile, or bird.
  • A foot equipped with such.
  • The pincer (chela) of a crustacean or other arthropod.
  • A mechanical device resembling a claw, used for gripping or lifting.
  • (botany) A slender appendage or process, formed like a claw, such as the base of petals of the pink.
    • (Gray)
  • (juggling, uncountable) The act of catching a ball overhand.
    • Derived terms
    * claw hammer * get one's claws into
    External links
    * (wikipedia "claw")

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) clawian, from clawu.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To scratch or to tear at.
  • * '>citation
    • Using her hands like windshield wipers, she tried to flick snow away from her mouth. When she clawed at her chest and neck, the crumbs maddeningly slid back onto her face. She grew claustrophobic.
  • To use the claws to seize, to grip.
  • To use the claws to climb.
  • (juggling) To perform a catch.
  • To move with one's fingertips.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=October 15 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Liverpool 1 - 1 Man Utd , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=De Gea was United's hero again within seconds of Hernandez's equaliser, diving to his left to claw away Dirk Kuyt's shot as he got on the end of a superb cross from Stewart Downing.}}
  • (obsolete) To relieve uneasy feeling, such as an itch, by scratching; hence, to humor or flatter, to court someone.
  • * 1599 ,
    • I cannot hide what I am: I must be sad when I have cause, and smile at no man's jests; eat when I have stomach, and wait for no man's leisure; sleep when I am drowsy, and tend on no man's business; laugh when I am merry, and claw no man in his humour.
  • * Holland
    • Rich men they claw , soothe up, and flatter; the poor they contemn and despise.
  • (obsolete) To rail at; to scold.
  • * T. Fuller
    • In the aforesaid preamble, the king fairly claweth' the great monasteries, wherein, saith he, religion, thanks be to God, is right well kept and observed; though he ' claweth them soon after in another acceptation.

    fang

    English

    (wikipedia fang)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) fangen, from (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (transitive, dialectal, or, archaic) To catch, capture; seize; grip; clutch; lay hold of.
  • * J. Webster
    • He's in the law's clutches; you see he's fanged .
    (Shakespeare)
  • (transitive, dialectal, or, obsolete) To take; receive with assent; accept.
  • (transitive, obsolete, as a guest) To receive with hospitality; welcome.
  • (transitive, obsolete, a thing given or imposed) To receive.
  • (dialectal) To receive or adopt into spiritual relation, as in baptism; be godfather or godmother to.
    • Derived terms
    * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l)

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) fang, .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A grasping; capture; the act or power of seizing; hold.
  • That which is seized or carried off; booty; spoils; stolen goods.
  • Any projection, catch, shoot, or other thing by which hold is taken; a prehensile part or organ.
  • * Evelyn
    • the protuberant fangs of the yucca
  • (mining) A channel cut in the rock, or a pipe of wood, used for conveying air.
  • (rare, in the plural) Cage-shuts.
  • (nautical) The coil or bend of a rope; (by extension) a noose; a trap.
  • (nautical) The valve of a pump box.
    • Derived terms
    * (l)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (Scotland) To supply (a pump) with the water necessary for it to operate.

    • Etymology 3

    From an abbreviation of fangtooth, from (etyl) *.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • a long, pointed canine tooth used for biting and tearing flesh
  • (in snakes) a long pointed tooth for injecting venom
    • Derived terms
    * (l) * (l)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (rare) To strike or attack with the fangs.
  • To enable to catch or tear; to furnish with fangs.
  • * Philips
    • chariots fanged with scythes
    ----