A sharp, curved claw of a bird of prey such as an eagle, hawk, or owl. Used for grasping and killing prey.
From Old French talon meaning heel or spur, from Latin talus meaning ankle or heel bone. The meaning shifted from heel to claw because of the resemblance between a bird's rear claw and a heel.
Talons are engineering marvels - they can exert pressure of over 400 pounds per square inch, strong enough to crush bones. The word's journey from 'heel' to 'claw' reflects how language follows visual metaphors across species.
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