'talon' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'talon', where 'talon' meant 'heel'.

'talon' ultimately derives from Latin 'tālus' (meaning 'ankle bone, heel'), passed into Old French as 'talon' and then into Middle English as 'talon', developing into the modern English word 'talon'.

Initially it meant 'heel' or the ankle bone; over time the sense was extended by analogy to a projecting or curved part and then to a bird's claw, giving the modern meaning 'a claw of a bird of prey' and adjective senses like 'having talons'.