talon

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: tal=on

CIDE DICTIONARY

talon, n. [F., heel, spur, LL. talo, fr. L. talus the ankle, heel.].

•  The claw of a predaceous bird or animal, especially the claw of a bird of prey.  Bacon.  [1913 Webster]
•  One of certain small prominences on the hind part of the face of an elephant's tooth.  [1913 Webster]
•  A kind of molding, concave at the bottom and convex at the top; -- usually called an ogee.  [1913 Webster]

  " When the concave part is at the top, it is called an inverted talon."  [1913 Webster]
•  The shoulder of the bolt of a lock on which the key acts to shoot the bolt.  Knight.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

talon, n.
1 a claw, esp. of a bird of prey.
2 the cards left after the deal in a card-game.
3 the last part of a dividend-coupon sheet, entitling the holder to a new sheet on presentation.
4 the shoulder of a bolt against which the key presses in shooting it in a lock.
5 an ogee moulding.

Derivative

taloned adj. (also in comb.).

Etymology

ME f. OF, = heel, ult. f. L talus: see TALUS(1)