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talon

1. The claw of a predaceous bird or animal, especially the claw of a bird of prey.

2. (Science: zoology) One of certain small prominences on the hind part of the face of an elephant's tooth.

3. A kind of molding, concave at the bottom and convex at the top; usually called an ogee. When the concave part is at the top, it is called an inverted talon.

4. The shoulder of the bolt of a lock on which the key acts to shoot the bolt.

Origin: F, heel, spur, LL. Talo, fr. L. Talus the ankle, heel.