2. The hand. [Jocose] Dryden.
Paw clam (Zoˆl.), the tridacna; - - so called because shaped like an animal's paw.
Paw, v. i. To draw the forefoot along the ground; to beat or scrape with the forefoot. Job xxxix. 21.
Paw, 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.
2. To scrape or beat with the forefoot.
His hot courser pawed the Hungarian plane.
Tickell.
Pawk (?), n. (Zoˆl.) A small lobster. Travis.
Paw"ky (?), a. [Cf. AS. pÊcean to deceive.] Arch; cunning; sly. [Scot.] Jamieson.
Pawl (?), 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.]
Pawl bitt (Naut.), a heavy timber, set abaft the windlass, to receive the strain of the pawls. -- Pawl rim or ring (Naut.), a stationary metallic ring surrounding the base of a capstan, having notches for the pawls to catch in.
Pawl, v. t. To stop with a pawl; to drop the pawls off.
To pawl the capstan. See under Capstan.
Pawn (?), n. See Pan, the masticatory.
Pawn, n. [OE. paune, poun, OF. peon, poon, F. pion, LL. pedo a foot soldier, fr. L. pes, pedis, foot. See Foot, and cf. Pioneer, Peon.] (Chess) A man or piece of the lowest rank.
Pawn, 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.
As for mortgaging or pawning, . . . men will not take pawns without use [i. e., interest].
Bacon.
2. State of being pledged; a pledge for the fulfillment of a promise. [R.]
Redeem from broking pawn the blemish'd crown.
Shak.
As the morning dew is a pawn of the evening fatness.
Donne.
3. A stake hazarded in a wager. [Poetic]
My life I never held but as a pawn To wage against thy enemies.
Shak.
In pawn, At pawn, in the state of being pledged. "Sweet wife, my honor is at pawn." Shak. -- Pawn ticket, a receipt given by the pawnbroker for an article pledged.
Pawn, 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.
The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section P and Q · The Wunder Library — complete classics, free to read, with narration.