Pawing means touching or grabbing in an excited or wild manner: “The pet dog was pawing at the trousers of the master to take it out with him.”
“Lady customers were pawing over the woollen items at various shops at the end of the winter season.”
Pawning , on the other hand , means the process of giving someone an object; such as, a security for a loan: “Henry pawned his watch to buy a birthday gift for his daughter.”
