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

The 40-year-old Grammy winner took the stage inside Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena in late August with sharp, metallic talons to match her suit of armor. —Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 6 Sep. 2025

Lowthorpe unhurriedly reflects Helen’s sense of wonder, taking the time to admire the hawk’s plumage and the deadly weapons that are its talons and beak. —Peter Debruge, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025

The squirrel’s back was punctured through the skin, but the talon marks were not deep enough to have been fatal. —Charles Elliott, Outdoor Life, 21 Aug. 2025

From glossy rosewater nails to short and shimmery cat eye talons and dainty little gems—less is certainly more. —Ranyechi Udemezue, Vogue, 11 Aug. 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