Clapperclaw

Clapperclaw is a verb that means to claw with fingernails.  Our word of the day combines two words of Old English origin ‘clapper’ and ‘claw.’ Clapperclaw has been with us since the late 16th century. here’s an example of it in use: I really enjoyed last night’s movie, but I have to say it wasn’t terribly realistic — especially the scene where the heroine was able to clapperclaw her way up the side of a steep mountainside. I don’t care how long her nails were, it just didn’t seem plausible to me at all.