griffer

to scratch, to claw

verb gree-FEH Rare

Origin: From griffe (claw)

Usage Note

Griffer is the action of a cat or similar animal raking with claws, but is also used for people scratching in a fight. Griffe (the noun) additionally means a designer label or signature, giving the word a broader cultural life in French fashion. Un griffon is a gryphon or a type of dog breed.

Examples

"Le chat m'a griffé la main."

Natural Translation

The cat scratched my hand.

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