clawing Definition

claw
noun

1. A hard curved pointed nail on the end of each digit of the foot in birds, most reptiles and many mammals.

Thesaurus: talon, nail, hook, pincer.
2. The foot of an animal or bird with a number of such nails.
3. Any structure resembling a claw, eg the pincer of a crab or lobster or a sharp curved structure at the tip of the leg of certain insects.
4. Something with the shape or action of a claw, eg part of a mechanical device.

verb

tr & intr
clawed, clawing
1. To tear or scratch it with claws, nails or fingers.

Thesaurus: maul, rip, mangle; tear, lacerate, scratch, graze, scrape.
Form: claw at something (often)

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon clawu.

Phrasal Verb: claw something back

Said of a government: to recover money given away in benefits and allowances by imposing a new tax.To regain something with difficulty (eg commercial advantage etc).
Example: She clawed her way back to solvency