bear's-paw: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowSpecialist/Literary
Quick answer
What does “bear's-paw” mean?
The large, pad-like foot of a bear.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The large, pad-like foot of a bear.
1. Any object shaped like a bear's paw, such as certain types of shell or a type of fern frond. 2. In cabinetmaking: a decorative scalloped shape on furniture feet resembling a bear's paw.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is equally rare in both varieties. The hyphenated form is preferred in formal writing in both.
Connotations
Evokes imagery of wilderness, strength, and the animal itself. In a decorative context (e.g., furniture), it can connote a rustic or 'frontier' aesthetic, particularly in North America.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. More likely to be encountered in nature writing, historical texts, or specialist fields like zoology or antique furniture.
Grammar
How to Use “bear's-paw” in a Sentence
the bear's-paw of [noun]shaped like a bear's-pawa bear's-paw [noun][noun] with bear's-paw feetVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bear's-paw” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Not used as a verb]
American English
- [Not used as a verb]
adverb
British English
- [Not used as an adverb]
American English
- [Not used as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- The table had distinctive bear's-paw feet.
- They found a bear's-paw shell on the beach.
American English
- He owned an antique bear's-paw chest.
- The hunter identified the bear's-paw print in the soil.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used descriptively in zoology, biology, or historical/archaeological studies of wildlife.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Used in descriptions of animal tracks, taxidermy, and specific styles of antique furniture (e.g., 'bear's-paw foot' on a chest).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bear's-paw”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bear's-paw”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bear's-paw”
- Writing it as 'bear paw' (a paw made of bear?) or 'bears' paw' (incorrect possessive).
- Using it in contexts where a simpler word like 'paw' or 'foot' would suffice, making speech sound unnatural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a hyphenated compound noun: 'bear's-paw'. The hyphen links the possessive form to the noun, treating the whole as a single lexical unit.
No. 'Bear paw' (without punctuation) would typically be interpreted as a paw made from a bear (e.g., a trophy or rug), not the anatomical part of a living bear. The standard term for the foot is the hyphenated possessive.
It is very rare. You will almost never hear it in everyday conversation. It is a specialist term used in specific fields like wildlife tracking, zoology, or antique collecting.
There are no fixed idioms. However, it is commonly used in similes to describe something large, rough, or powerful, e.g., 'His hand felt like a bear's-paw'.
The large, pad-like foot of a bear.
Bear's-paw is usually specialist/literary in register.
Bear's-paw: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbeəz ˌpɔː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈberz ˌpɔː/ (East Coast), /ˈberz ˌpɑː/ (General American). Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None specific to this term. The concept may appear in similes, e.g., 'a hand like a bear's paw'.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a bear leaving a massive, five-toed print in the mud. The hyphen connects the owner ('bear') to the body part ('paw'), just like 'cat's-eye' or 'lion's mane'.
Conceptual Metaphor
SIZE/STRENGTH IS A BEAR'S PAW (e.g., 'He shook my hand with a grip like a bear's-paw').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'bear's-paw' most appropriately used?