paw

n. [ OE. pawe, poue, OF. poe: cf. patte, LG. pote, D. poot, G. pfote. ] 1. The foot of a quadruped having claws, as the lion, dog, cat, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The hand. [ Jocose ] Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Paw clam (Zool.), the tridacna; -- so called because shaped like an animal's paw. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Pawed p. pr. & vb. n. Pawing. ] 1. To pass the paw over; to stroke or handle with the paws; hence, to handle fondly or rudely. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To scrape or beat with the forefoot. [ 1913 Webster ]

His hot courser pawed the Hungarian plane. Tickell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A small lobster. Travis. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. AS. pæcean to deceive. ] Arch; cunning; sly. [ Scot. ] Jamieson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ W. pawl a pole, a stake. Cf. Pole a stake. ] (Mach.) A pivoted tongue, or sliding bolt, on one part of a machine, adapted to fall into notches, or interdental spaces, on another part, as a ratchet wheel, in such a manner as to permit motion in one direction and prevent it in the reverse, as in a windlass; a catch, click, or detent. See Illust. of Ratchet Wheel. [ Written also paul, or pall. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Pawl bitt (Naut.), a heavy timber, set abaft the windlass, to receive the strain of the pawls. --
Pawl rim or
Pawl ring (Naut.), a stationary metallic ring surrounding the base of a capstan, having notches for the pawls to catch in. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To stop with a pawl; to drop the pawls off. [ 1913 Webster ]

To pawl the capstan. See under Capstan. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. pan pledge, assurance, skirt, piece, F. pan skirt, lappet, piece, from L. pannus. See Pane. ] 1. Anything delivered or deposited as security, as for the payment of money borrowed, or of a debt; a pledge. See Pledge, n., 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

As for mortgaging or pawning, . . . men will not take pawns without use [ i. e., interest ]. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. State of being pledged; a pledge for the fulfillment of a promise. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Redeem from broking pawn the blemish'd crown. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

As the morning dew is a pawn of the evening fatness. Donne. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A stake hazarded in a wager. [ Poetic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

My life I never held but as a pawn
To wage against thy enemies. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

In pawn,
At pawn, in the state of being pledged. “Sweet wife, my honor is at pawn.” Shak. --
Pawn shop, a shop where a pawnbroker does business. --
Pawn ticket, a receipt given by the pawnbroker for an article pledged. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Pawned p. pr. & vb. n. Pawning. ] 1. To give or deposit in pledge, or as security for the payment of money borrowed; to put in pawn; to pledge; as, to pawn one's watch.
Syn. -- hock [ colloq ]. [ 1913 Webster ]

And pawned the last remaining piece of plate. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To pledge for the fulfillment of a promise; to stake; to risk; to wager; to hazard. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pawning his honor to obtain his lust. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]