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Pliers vs Claw - What's the difference?

pliers | claw |

As nouns the difference between pliers and claw

is that pliers is a gripping tool that multiplies the strength of the user's hand while claw is a curved, pointed horny nail on each digit of the foot of a mammal, reptile, or bird.

As a verb claw is

to scratch or to tear at.

pliers

English

(wikipedia pliers)

Noun

(en-plural noun)
  • A gripping tool that multiplies the strength of the user's hand
    • I need a pair of pliers to get a good grip on that broken screw.
  • English plurals

    • Usage notes

    * To make clear the quantity under discussion clearer, the expressions "a pair of pliers" or "(however many) pairs of pliers" can be used. * "A pliers" is somewhat awkward, though accepted in American English.

    Derived terms

    * needlenose pliers

    See also

    * pincers

    Anagrams

    * * * * * * English pluralia tantum

    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.