talon

noun

tal·​on ˈta-lən 

1

a

: the claw of an animal and especially of a bird of prey

b

: a finger or hand of a human being

2

: a part or object shaped like or suggestive of a heel or claw: such as

a

: an ogee molding

b

: the shoulder of the bolt of a lock on which the key acts to shoot the bolt

3

a

: cards laid aside in a pile in solitaire

b

: stock sense 5c

taloned

ˈta-lənd 

adjective

Examples of talon in a Sentence

The hawk gripped the mouse in its talons.

Recent Examples on the Web

While her base nails were bare, the tips were extended into super long and sharp talons made to look like falling water droplets. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 30 Jan. 2025

But for a bold twist, the rapper’ tips are inverted, creating an optical illusion that calls to mind webbed fingers or long talons. —Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 29 Jan. 2025

With a pigeon clamped firmly in his talons, Flaco flew from a nearby water tower to a spot directly above Emery and Lei. —Elisabeth Egan, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024

Director James Mangold went as far as comparing Chalamet’s nails to the talons of a vampire in a Dec. 19 interview published by Business Insider. —Michelle Lee, People.com, 23 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English taloun heel, hind claw of a bird of prey, from Anglo-French talun, from Vulgar Latin *talon-, *talo, from Latin talus ankle, anklebone

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

talon

noun

tal·​on ˈtal-ən 

: the claw of an animal and especially of a bird of prey

Medical Definition

talon

noun

tal·​on ˈtal-ən 

: the crushing region of the crown of an upper molar