paws

See also: PAWS

English

Pronunciation

(Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /pɔːz/
(US) IPA^(key): /pɔːz/, /pɑːz/
Audio (US): (file)
Homophone: pause
Homophones: pores, pours (non-rhotic)
Rhymes: -ɔːz
Rhymes: -ɑːz

Etymology 1

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Noun

paws

plural of paw

Derived terms

Santa Paws

Verb

paws

third-person singular simple present indicative of paw

Etymology 2

Pun on pause sounding identical to paws (plural of paw).

Noun

paws

(informal, humorous) pause, used in contexts of animals with paws
- 2003 November 24, Mark Mestman <guitarmakermark@yahoo.com>, “Trying Aspen Bedding.......”, in alt.pets.rodents.rats‎^[1] (Usenet), via Google Groups, archived from the original on 11 January 2026:
  You fine folks here, particularly Joanne (mom to 14 rats) and Paghat, posted very passionate and informative articles, which gave me paws (pun intended) to think twice about the "advice" my vet had given me about pine shavings being safe for rattie's bedding.
- 2014 March 13, Olivia B. Waxman, “WATCH: Cat Interrupts Yoga Session, Ruins the Mew-d”, in Time‎^[2], via EBSCOhost, →ISSN:
  Watch a cat named Milo sabotage a purrfectly peaceful yoga routine in a video posted by a user named "jahzyoga" a "yoga teacher" and "jazz vocalist." Dare we suggest, maybe he was trying to hit the "paws" button?
- 2017, Brian Tallerico, editor, Magill's Cinema Annual 2017 36th Edition: A Survey of the films of 2016, Gale, →ISBN, page 306:
  His life just got put on paws.
- 2019 November 30, Alastair Sawday, “Press paws and relax at the best dog-friendly places in Britain”, in The Daily Telegraph‎^[3], via EBSCOhost, →ISSN, page 7:
  [Title:] Press paws and relax at the best dog-friendly places in Britain
- 2023 January 9, Sara Moniuszko, “Furry influencers will make you hit paws”, in USA Today‎^[4], via EBSCOhost, →ISSN:
  [Title:] Furry influencers will make you hit paws

Verb

paws (third-person singular simple present pawses, present participle pawsing, simple past and past participle pawsed)

(informal, humorous) to pause, used in contexts of animals with paws
- 1998 June 28, Sichi/Sarafina <sichi@lionking.org>, “Re: (fwd) Stuck in Lion King Game "Be Prepared" (fwd)”, in alt.fan.lion-king‎^[5] (Usenet), via Google Groups, archived from the original on 11 January 2026:
  If you paws the game at a right moemnt you ger really interesting ScarSimba position results ;)^[sic]
- 2004 December 1, The Puppy Wizard <ThePuppyWizard@earthlink.net>, “Re: Re: 1 and a half year old german shepherd is afraid of our new house”, in rec.pets.dogs.misc‎^[6] (Usenet), via Google Groups, archived from the original on 11 January 2026:
  The Amazing Puppy Wizard has pawsed to think of EVERY THING, abHOWET dogs and behavior.
- 2011, Lynda Reynolds Fisher, “CHURCH DOG'S VISIT TO LIFE CARE CENTER, CHRISTMAS WEEK 2009”, in E-Mails From The Church Dog: Lessons From A Therapy Dog For The Ministry, WestBow Press, →ISBN, page 162:
  After exchanging greetings with these two, I made my way slowly down the corridor to Phyllis Wallace's room, pawsing as usual at every wheelchair for the outstretched hands to pat my silky head.
- 2024 July 21, Ronnel Relao, Paula Sharmaine Delos Santos, “Paws and Reflect: Assessing the Impact of User Reviews and Ratings on Pet Food E-commerce Purchase Decisions”, in SEISENSE Business Review, volume 4, number 1, SEISENSE, →DOI, →ISSN, page 118:
  [Title:] Paws and Reflect: Assessing the Impact of User Reviews and Ratings on Pet Food E-commerce Purchase Decisions

Anagrams

WSPA, Spaw, spaw, WAPs, wasp, WASP, APWs, PWAs, waps, AWPs, waps., Wasp, swap

Cypriot Arabic

Root
p-w-s
2 terms

Etymology

Inherited from Arabic بَوْس (baws).

Noun

paws m (collective, singulative pawsa f)

kissing, kisses

References

Borg, Alexander (2004), A Comparative Glossary of Cypriot Maronite Arabic (Arabic–English) (Handbook of Oriental Studies; I.70), Leiden and Boston: Brill, page 168