爪牙吏 zhǎoyálì tyrant's henchman Origin Definitions Defs Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents 爪牙 zhǎoyá lackey a person who works for a powerful or evil figure to help them do bad things; a henchman, accomplice, or collaborator吏 lì minor official (bound form) a low-level functionary, clerk, or yamen runner