to claw away

1 definition found

to claw away - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Claw \Claw\ (kl[add]), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clawed (kl[add]d);
     p. pr. & vb. n. Clawing.] [AS. clawan. See Claw, n.]
     1. To pull, tear, or scratch with, or as with, claws or
        nails.
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     2. To relieve from some uneasy sensation, as by scratching;
        to tickle; hence, to flatter; to court. [Obs.]
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              Rich men they claw, soothe up, and flatter; the poor
              they contemn and despise.             --Holland.
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     3. To rail at; to scold. [Obs.]
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              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.                          --T. Fuller
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     Claw me, claw thee, stand by me and I will stand by you; --
        an old proverb. --Tyndale.
  
     To claw away, to scold or revile. "The jade Fortune is to
        be clawed away for it, if you should lose it."
        --L'Estrange.
  
     To claw (one) on the back, to tickle; to express
        approbation. (Obs.) --Chaucer.
  
     To claw (one) on the gall, to find fault with; to vex.
        [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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