'hooked-clawed' is a compound formed from 'hooked' + 'clawed'. 'hooked' ultimately originates from Old English 'hōc' (hook), from Proto-Germanic *hōkaz meaning 'hook'. 'clawed' derives from Old English 'clawu' meaning 'nail, claw' (from a Proto-Germanic root related to words for a hooked or grasping nail).

'hooked' developed from Old English forms (related to verbs meaning 'to hook') into Middle English 'hoken'/'hook' and the past-participle/adjectival form 'hooked'. 'claw' comes from Old English 'clawu' which became Middle English 'clawe' and modern 'claw', with the adjective/past-participle 'clawed' formed regularly; the compound 'hooked-clawed' is a descriptive formation combining those two adjectives.

Individually, 'hook' originally referred to a curved device and 'claw' to a fingernail or talon; combined as 'hooked-clawed', the phrase specifically denotes the morphological trait 'having hook-shaped claws' and is used descriptively of animals (especially birds of prey).