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

Eagle beaks and talons are made of keratin, a strong type of protein that helps form skin, hair, and other outer layers of skin on a variety of animals. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 10 Apr. 2025

The sight of the Kelly-green jerseys, against the sickly inchworm green of Veterans Stadium’s diabolical artificial turf, got its talons in me. —Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025

The mom initially flew into the nest overlooking Big Bear Lake carrying a big stick in her talons as Shadow was eagerly tending to the eggs, the video shows. —Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 25 Feb. 2025

The reserve of a select group of noblemen, les talons rouges, signaled a sumptuary code, an inner circle, which explains why so many of the king’s courtiers were posed awkwardly in portraits for the purpose of displaying their trophy steppers. —Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 26 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for talon

• alan
• ballon
• gallon
• concanavalin
• enkephalin
• trifluralin

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