Hand vs. Paw — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 15, 2024
A hand is a versatile tool for humans with dexterity and sensation, while a paw is an animal's foot adapted for walking, grasping, or running.
Difference Between Hand and Paw
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Hands are crucial for humans, enabling intricate movements and tasks due to opposable thumbs and fine motor skills. They are composed of bones, muscles, and nerves that provide a wide range of motion and the ability to manipulate the environment. Paws, on the other hand, are the feet of many animals, including dogs, cats, and bears. They are typically covered with fur, have claws, and are designed for various functions such as walking, running, or digging.
While hands are endowed with a high concentration of nerve endings and sweat glands, paws often have fewer nerve endings in the pads, making them less sensitive to detailed sensations. However, paws are generally more resilient to harsh conditions than human hands, which are more prone to injuries and require more care.
Humans use their hands for a multitude of tasks, including writing, eating, and creating, making them essential for daily life and communication. The fine motor skills and dexterity of the hands are unmatched in the animal kingdom, highlighting their importance in human evolution and culture.
Animals rely on their paws for mobility and survival, utilizing them for activities such as hunting, climbing, and grooming. The structure of a paw can vary greatly among species, reflecting adaptations to their environment and lifestyle. For example, the webbed paws of aquatic animals like ducks and otters are different from the padded paws of land animals like cats and dogs.
Comparison Chart
Primary Use
Manipulation, sensation
Walking, running
ADVERTISEMENT
Structure
Opposable thumb, nails
Claws, pads
Sensitivity
High tactile sensitivity
Less sensitive pads
Adaptation
Fine motor skills
Species-specific adaptations
Coverage
Skin, no fur
Fur, sometimes webbing
Compare with Definitions
Hand
A hand is the end part of a human arm beyond the wrist, including the palm, fingers, and thumb, used for grasping and holding.
She waved her hand to attract attention.
Paw
A paw is the foot of an animal, especially a quadruped, that has claws or nails.
The cat licked its paw gently.
Hand
In a more figurative sense, a hand can represent involvement or participation in an activity.
He had a hand in the successful completion of the project.
Paw
It can refer to a gentle, playful, or affectionate touch or stroke with one's hand.
He gave the dog a friendly paw on its head.
Hand
A hand can denote a round of applause as a gesture of approval or appreciation.
The performer received a big hand from the audience.
Paw
A paw can also be used to describe the action of an animal scratching or digging with its feet.
The dog pawed at the ground, trying to uncover the hidden toy.
Hand
It can also refer to a set of cards held by a player in card games.
She looked at her hand and decided to bet.
Paw
In a symbolic sense, a paw can represent the presence or influence of an animal or beast.
The paw prints in the snow indicated a wolf had passed by.
Hand
It is also a unit of measurement, especially for measuring the height of horses, equal to 4 inches.
The pony was just 14 hands high.
Paw
In a more colloquial sense, paw can mean to touch or handle clumsily or roughly.
Stop pawing at the delicate ornaments!
Hand
A hand is a prehensile, multi-fingered appendage located at the end of the forearm or forelimb of primates such as humans, chimpanzees, monkeys, and lemurs. A few other vertebrates such as the koala (which has two opposable thumbs on each "hand" and fingerprints extremely similar to human fingerprints) are often described as having "hands" instead of paws on their front limbs.
Paw
A paw is the soft foot-like part of a mammal, generally a quadruped, that has claws.
Hand
The end part of a person's arm beyond the wrist, including the palm, fingers, and thumb
The palm of her hand
He was leading her by the hand
Paw
The foot of an animal, especially a quadruped, that has claws or nails.
Hand
A pointer on a clock or watch indicating the passing of units of time
The second hand
Paw
(Informal) A human hand, especially a large clumsy one
"Lennie dabbled his big paw in the water" (John Steinbeck).
Hand
Used in reference to the power to direct something
The day-to-day running of the house was in her hands
They are taking the law into their own hands
Paw
To feel or strike with the paw or paws.
Hand
A person's workmanship, especially in artistic work
His idiosyncratic hand
Paw
To strike or scrape with a beating motion
The bull pawed the ground before charging.
Hand
A person who engages in manual labour, especially in a factory, on a farm, or on board a ship
A factory hand
The ship was lost with all hands
Paw
To touch or handle clumsily or roughly.
Hand
The set of cards dealt to a player in a card game
The situation does not give them a strong hand at the negotiating table
He's got a good hand
Paw
To feel or touch (another) in an annoying or unwanted way.
Hand
A unit of measurement of a horse's height, equal to 4 inches (10.16 cm).
Paw
To scrape the ground with the forefeet
The horse pawed restlessly.
Hand
A bunch of bananas
Mottled hands of bananas
Paw
To handle someone or something clumsily, rudely, or with too much familiarity
Don't paw at everything you see.
Hand
Pick (something) up and give it to (someone)
I handed the trowel back to him
He handed each man a glass
Paw
The soft foot of a mammal or other animal, generally a quadruped, that has claws or nails; comparable to a human hand or foot.
Hand
Hold the hand of (someone) in order to guide them in a specified direction
He handed them into the carriage
Paw
(humorous) A hand.
Get your grubby paws off my things!
Hand
Take in or furl (a sail)
Hand in the main!
Paw
Father; pa.
Hand
The terminal part of the human arm located below the forearm, used for grasping and holding and consisting of the wrist, palm, four fingers, and an opposable thumb.
Paw
(of an animal) To go through something (such as a garbage can) with paws.
Hand
A homologous or similar part in other animals, as the terminal part of the forelimb in certain vertebrates.
Paw
(of an animal) To gently push on something with a paw.
Hand
A unit of length equal to 4 inches (10.2 centimeters), used especially to specify the height of a horse.
Paw
(of an animal) To draw the forefoot along the ground; to beat or scrape with the forefoot.
Hand
Any of the rotating pointers used as indexes on the face of a mechanical clock.
Paw
(by extension) To clumsily dig through something.
Hand
A pointer, as on a gauge or dial.
Paw
To flatter.
Hand
(Printing)See index.
Paw
The foot of a quadruped having claws, as the lion, dog, cat, etc.
Hand
Lateral direction indicated according to the way in which one is facing
At my right hand.
Paw
The hand.
Hand
A style or individual sample of writing.
Paw
To draw the forefoot along the ground; to beat or scrape with the forefoot.
Hand
A signature
Put my hand to the contract.
Paw
To pass the paw over; to stroke or handle with the paws; hence, to handle fondly or rudely.
Hand
A round of applause to signify approval.
Paw
To scrape or beat with the forefoot.
His hot courser pawed the Hungarian plane.
Hand
Physical assistance; help
Gave me a hand with the bags.
Paw
A clawed foot of an animal especially a quadruped
Hand
Hands Sports A hand ball in soccer.
Paw
The (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb;
He had the hands of a surgeon
He extended his mitt
Hand
The cards held in a card game by a given player at any time.
Paw
Scrape with the paws;
The bear pawed the door
Hand
The number of cards dealt each player; the deal.
Paw
Touch clumsily;
The man tried to paw her
Hand
A player or participant in a card game
We need a fourth hand for bridge.
Hand
A portion or section of a game during which all the cards dealt out are played
A hand of poker.
Hand
One who performs manual labor
A factory hand.
Hand
One who is part of a group or crew
The ship's hands.
Hand
A participant in an activity, often one who specializes in a particular activity or pursuit
An old hand at labor negotiations.
Hand
The degree of immediacy of a source of information; degree of reliability
Heard the scandalous tale at third hand.
Hand
The strength or force of one's position
Negotiated from a strong hand.
Hand
Often hands Possession, ownership, or keeping
The books should be in your hands by noon.
Hand
Power; jurisdiction; care
The defendant's fate is in the hands of the jury. Dinner is in the chef's hands.
Hand
Involvement or participation
"In all this was evident the hand of the counterrevolutionaries" (John Reed).
Hand
An influence or effect
The manager had a hand in all major decisions.
Hand
Evidence of craft or artistic skill
Can see the hand of a genius even in the lighter poems.
Hand
An aptitude or ability
I tried my hand at decorating.
Hand
The aesthetic feel or tactile quality of something, such as a fabric, textile, or carpeting, that indicates its fineness, texture, and durability.
Hand
A manner or way of performing something
A light hand with makeup.
Hand
Permission or a promise, especially a pledge to wed.
Hand
A commitment or agreement, especially when sealed by a handshake; one's word
You have my hand on that.
Hand
To give or pass with or as if with the hands; transmit
Hand me your keys.
Hand
To aid, direct, or conduct with the hands
The usher handed the patron to a reserved seat.
Hand
(Nautical)To roll up and secure (a sail); furl.
Hand
To give (the ball) directly to a teammate, as in football. Often used with off.
Hand
To carry, strike, or propel (the ball) with the hand or arm in violation of the rules in soccer.
Hand
To make a handoff, as in football. Often used with off.
Hand
The part of the forelimb below the forearm or wrist in a human, and the corresponding part in many other animals.
Her hands are really strong.
Hand
That which resembles, or to some extent performs the office of, a human hand.
Hand
A limb of certain animals, such as the foot of a hawk, or any one of the four extremities of a monkey.
Hand
An index or pointer on a dial; such as the hour and minute hands on the face of an analog clock, which are used to indicate the time of day.
Hand
That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once.
Hand
(card games) The set of cards held by a player.
Hand
(tobacco manufacturing) A bundle of tobacco leaves tied together.
Hand
(collective) A bunch of bananas.
Hand
That which has the appearance of, a human hand.
Hand
A bunch of bananas, a typical retail amount, where individual fruits are fingers.
Hand
In linear measurement:
Hand
Four inches, a hand's breadth.
Hand
(obsolete) Three inches.
Hand
A side; part, camp; direction, either right or left.
Hand
Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill; dexterity.
Hand
(especially in compounds) An agent; a servant, or manual laborer; a workman, trained or competent for special service or duty.
Large farms need many farm hands.
Hand
A performer more or less skilful.
An old hand at public speaking
Hand
An instance of helping.
Bob gave Alice a hand to move the furniture.
Hand
Handwriting; style of penmanship.
A good hand
Hand
A person's autograph or signature.
Given under my Hand and Seal of the State this 1st Day of January, 2010.
Hand
Promise, word.
Hand
Personal possession; ownership.
Hand
Management, domain, control.
In safe hands;
In good hands;
He lost his job when the factory changed hands.
With the business back in the founder's hands, there is new hope for the company.
With John in charge of the project, it's in good hands.
Hand
Applause.
Give him a hand.
Hand
(historical) A Native American gambling game, involving guessing the whereabouts of bits of ivory or similar, which are passed rapidly from hand to hand.
Hand
(firearms) The small part of a gunstock near the lock, which is grasped by the hand in taking aim.
Hand
A whole rhizome of ginger.
Hand
The feel of a fabric; the impression or quality of the fabric as judged qualitatively by the sense of touch.
This fabric has a smooth, soft hand.
Hand
(archaic) Actual performance; deed; act; workmanship; agency; hence, manner of performance.
Hand
(archaic) Agency in transmission from one person to another.
To buy at first hand (from the producer, or when new);
To buy at second hand (when no longer in the producer’s hand, or when not new);
It's not a rumor. I heard it at first hand.
Hand
(obsolete) Rate; price.
Hand
(transitive) To give, pass or transmit with the hand, literally or figuratively.
He handed them the letter.
She handed responsibility over to her deputy.
Hand
(transitive) To lead, guide, or assist with the hand; to conduct.
To hand a lady into a carriage
Hand
To manage.
Hand
To seize; to lay hands on.
Hand
To pledge by the hand; to handfast.
Hand
To furl.
Hand
To cooperate.
Hand
That part of the fore limb below the forearm or wrist in man and monkeys, and the corresponding part in many other animals; manus; paw. See Manus.
Hand
That which resembles, or to some extent performs the office of, a human hand
Hand
A measure equal to a hand's breadth, - four inches; a palm. Chiefly used in measuring the height of horses.
Hand
Side; part; direction, either right or left.
On this hand and that hand, were hangings.
The Protestants were then on the winning hand.
Hand
Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill; dexterity.
He had a great mind to try his hand at a Spectator.
Hand
Actual performance; deed; act; workmanship; agency; hence, manner of performance.
To change the hand in carrying on the war.
Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by my hand.
Hand
An agent; a servant, or laborer; a workman, trained or competent for special service or duty; a performer more or less skillful; as, a deck hand; a farm hand; an old hand at speaking.
A dictionary containing a natural history requires too many hands, as well as too much time, ever to be hoped for.
I was always reckoned a lively hand at a simile.
Hand
Handwriting; style of penmanship; as, a good, bad, or running hand. Hence, a signature.
I say she never did invent this letter;This is a man's invention and his hand.
Some writs require a judge's hand.
Hand
Personal possession; ownership; hence, control; direction; management; - usually in the plural.
Albinus . . . found means to keep in his hands the government of Britain.
Hand
Agency in transmission from one person to another; as, to buy at first hand, that is, from the producer, or when new; at second hand, that is, when no longer in the producer's hand, or when not new.
Hand
Rate; price.
Hand
That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once
Hand
The small part of a gunstock near the lock, which is grasped by the hand in taking aim.
Hand
A gambling game played by American Indians, consisting of guessing the whereabouts of bits of ivory or the like, which are passed rapidly from hand to hand.
Hand
To give, pass, or transmit with the hand; as, he handed them the letter.
Hand
To lead, guide, or assist with the hand; to conduct; as, to hand a lady into a carriage.
Hand
To manage; as, I hand my oar.
Hand
To seize; to lay hands on.
Hand
To pledge by the hand; to handfast.
Hand
To furl; - said of a sail.
Hand
To coöperate.
Hand
The (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb;
He had the hands of a surgeon
He extended his mitt
Hand
A hired laborer on a farm or ranch;
The hired hand fixed the railing
A ranch hand
Hand
Something written by hand;
She recognized his handwriting
His hand was illegible
Hand
Ability;
He wanted to try his hand at singing
Hand
A position given by its location to the side of an object;
Objections were voiced on every hand
Hand
The cards held in a card game by a given player at any given time;
I didn't hold a good hand all evening
He kept trying to see my hand
Hand
One of two sides of an issue;
On the one hand..., but on the other hand...
Hand
A rotating pointer on the face of a timepiece;
The big hand counts the minutes
Hand
A unit of length equal to 4 inches; used in measuring horses;
The horse stood 20 hands
Hand
A member of the crew of a ship;
All hands on deck
Hand
A card player in a game of bridge;
We need a 4th hand for bridge
Hand
A round of applause to signify approval;
Give the little lady a great big hand
Hand
Terminal part of the forelimb in certain vertebrates (e.g. apes or kangaroos);
The kangaroo's forearms seem undeveloped but the powerful five-fingered hands are skilled at feinting and clouting
Hand
Physical assistance;
Give me a hand with the chores
Hand
Place into the hands or custody of;
Hand me the spoon, please
Turn the files over to me, please
He turned over the prisoner to his lawyers
Hand
Guide or conduct or usher somewhere;
Hand the elderly lady into the taxi
Common Curiosities
How do hands contribute to human culture and communication?
Hands are essential for creating, writing, and performing tasks that require precision, making them integral to human culture, communication, and technological advancement.
What is the main function of a hand?
The main function of a hand is to enable manipulation, sensation, and fine motor skills for various tasks.
Can paws have adaptations specific to an animal's environment?
Yes, paws often have adaptations that reflect an animal's lifestyle and environment, such as webbing for aquatic animals or thick pads for desert-dwelling creatures.
What role do paws play in an animal's survival?
Paws are crucial for an animal's mobility, hunting, climbing, and grooming, aiding in their survival and adaptation to their habitat.
What makes hands more prone to injuries compared to paws?
The higher sensitivity and less protective covering (like thick pads or fur) make hands more susceptible to injuries and environmental damage.
Do all animals with paws have the same type of paws?
No, the structure and features of paws can vary greatly among different species, reflecting their specific needs and environments.
How do hands and paws differ in terms of evolutionary development?
Hands and paws have evolved differently to suit the specific needs of humans and animals, respectively, with hands developing for manipulation and paws for mobility and environmental interaction.
How is a paw different from a hand in terms of structure?
A paw typically features claws and pads, whereas a hand has an opposable thumb, nails, and is more sensitive due to a higher concentration of nerve endings.
Are hands covered with fur like paws?
No, human hands are covered with skin and do not have fur, unlike many animal paws which are often covered with fur.
Are the sensory capabilities of hands and paws similar?
Hands generally have higher tactile sensitivity due to a greater concentration of nerve endings, while paws may have less detailed sensation but are adapted for different types of environmental feedback.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Perfect vs. Complete
Next Comparison
Drip vs. FitAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
