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The character 螯 belongs to the category of phono-semantic compounds, with the semantic element 虫 at the bottom, which generally denotes insects, reptiles, and invertebrate animals, and the phonetic element 敖 at the top. In terms of meaning, it is limited to the large pinching claws or nippers of certain crustaceans, notably crabs, lobsters, and scorpions. As a noun, it has always been used in a strict anatomical sense, never branching out into any figurative or abstract usage throughout its historical development.
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