Meaning
An acacia, specifically Acacia greggii, now Senegalia greggii, native to most of the border region of the US and Mexico.
Etymology
Origin: Unknown
From cat + claw, because its branches bear many small hooks which resemble cats' claws.
NYT Puzzle Appearances
No published puzzle dates on file for this word yet. It is part of the official NYT Spelling Bee word list for 2020, 2021, 2022.