claw foot: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Specialised; most common in medical and antique/design contexts.
Quick answer
What does “claw foot” mean?
A condition in which the toes become permanently bent in a claw-like position, often causing pain and difficulty walking.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A condition in which the toes become permanently bent in a claw-like position, often causing pain and difficulty walking.
Also refers to a style of furniture leg that is carved or shaped to resemble an animal's foot with claws, typical in antique designs.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in both varieties. The medical condition and furniture term are used in the same way.
Connotations
Same neutral-to-specialised connotations. The furniture term often connotes antiquity, ornamentation, and value.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse, but equally recognised in relevant specialist fields in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “claw foot” in a Sentence
Patient + has/develops + claw footSurgeon + corrects/treats + claw footFurniture + has/features + claw foot + legsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “claw foot” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The claw-foot condition made finding comfortable shoes a challenge.
- They bought a lovely claw-foot occasional table.
American English
- The claw-foot deformity required surgical intervention.
- She restored an antique claw-foot bathtub.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in antique furniture sales or specialist medical equipment.
Academic
Common in medical, podiatric, and physiotherapy literature. Also in art history/design studies.
Everyday
Uncommon unless discussing specific health issues or antique furniture.
Technical
Standard term in podiatry, orthopaedics, and antique furniture cataloguing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “claw foot”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “claw foot”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “claw foot”
- Using 'claw foot' to describe athlete's foot (a fungal infection). Confusing it with 'club foot' (a different congenital deformity, talipes equinovarus). Writing as one word ('clawfoot') is common for furniture (e.g., 'clawfoot tub') but typically two words for the medical condition.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are distinct conditions. Club foot (talipes equinovarus) is a congenital deformity where the foot is twisted inward and downward. Claw foot is an acquired or neurological condition where the toes are bent downward and the arch is often very high.
No, 'claw foot' is not standardly used as a verb. It functions as a noun or a compound adjective (e.g., claw-foot tub).
For most people, the term is encountered in relation to antique furniture, particularly bathtubs, tables, and sofas with legs ending in an animal paw-and-claw design.
It can be. It often indicates an underlying neurological or muscular problem (like Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, diabetes, or arthritis). It can lead to pain, calluses, ulcers, and difficulty walking, so it requires medical assessment.
A condition in which the toes become permanently bent in a claw-like position, often causing pain and difficulty walking.
Claw foot is usually specialised; most common in medical and antique/design contexts. in register.
Claw foot: in British English it is pronounced /ˈklɔː fʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈklɔː fʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a bird of prey (like an eagle) gripping the ground with its CLAWS. A foot with toes bent like claws = CLAW FOOT. For furniture, picture a lion's paw with claws at the end of a table leg.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BODY IS A MACHINE/TOOL (medical: malfunctioning part). AN OBJECT IS AN ANIMAL (furniture: leg is an animal's limb).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'claw foot' LEAST likely to be used?