[f. CLAW v. + -ING1.] The action of the verb CLAW.
1. Scratching, scraping, etc.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VII. lxiii. (1495), 278. A drye scabbe hath … desyrynge of frotynge, rubbynge, cratchynge, and clawynge.
c. 1475. Babees Bk. (1868), 4. Thurhe clowyng your flesshe loke yee nat rent.
1527. St. Papers Hen. VIII., I. 233. His leg, by a little clawing … is swelled and grevith him sore.
1614. Markham, Cheap Husb., I. ii. (1668), 10. Will … patiently indure currying, combing, rubbing, clawing.
1873. Miss Broughton, Nancy, III. ii. 31. Vick [the dog] is sitting on my lap, making little impatient clawings at my defenceless countenance.
† 2. fig. Flattery. Obs.
1548. Udall, etc. Erasm. Par., Pref. 5. Ticleyng or clawing of adulacion.
1553. Grimalde, trans. Cicero’s Offices (c. 1600), 96 a. That selfe same clawing of the multitude.
1639. Baker, in Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., Ps. cxliii. 3. He can do no good upon me with fawning and clawing.
