devil's claw
- noun
- /ˈdɛvəlz klɔ/
- US
:
garra del diablo
- The unusual seed pod of the devil's claw caught the attention of botanists visiting the desert.
Examples
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After the rains, fields in Texas bloomed with rows of devil's claw flowers.
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The devil's claw plant is often found in desert regions.
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In some cultures, the devil's claw is used for ornamental purposes or in traditional crafts.
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Have you ever seen a devil's claw flower?
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In the spring, the hills of New Mexico are covered in vibrant devil's claw flowers that attract many pollinators.
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The beautiful devil's claw plant thrives in arid climates and features distinctive flowers that bloom in large clusters.
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While hiking in Texas, we discovered a patch of devil's claw with its striking purple-mottled petals.
Synonyms
A plant that lives one year with pale flowers marked with purple and a long curved seed pod
A yearly plant with large pale flowers and long curved seed pods like a claw
A plant with large pale flowers and a long curved seed pod like a beak
A plant with large spotted flowers and a long curved beak-shaped flower part
A flowering plant with long beak-like white or yellow flowers marked with purple
A plant with large pale flowers and a long curved beak-like seed pod
A plant with claw-shaped seed pods that grows in sandy soil
Surface Forms
Morphology
devil's + claw
The compound is the conventional name of a specific plant and its medicinal extract; knowing 'devil' and 'claw' does not let a B1 learner infer that it refers to a southern African plant used to relieve inflammation. While 'claw' might suggest a shape, the medicinal sense and the specific referent are metaphorical and lexicalized, making the overall meaning unpredictable without prior exposure.
Etymology
Devil's claw gets its name from the plant's long, curved seed pods that look like a hooked claw and often catch on animals or clothing. So the strong 'claw' image is why people call the flower 'devil's claw'.
