bandsaw
|band-saw|
/ˈbændˌsɔː/
saw with a continuous band blade
Etymology
'bandsaw' is a compound of 'band' + 'saw'. 'band' originates from Old Norse 'band' meaning 'strip, band', and 'saw' originates from Old English 'sagu', from Proto-Germanic *sagōn (from the PIE root *sek- 'to cut').
'bandsaw' developed as the hyphenated form 'band-saw' in the 19th century with the advent of continuous‑blade sawing machines, and later became the closed compound 'bandsaw' in modern English.
The elements originally meant 'a strip or belt' ('band') and 'a cutting tool' ('saw'); combined they came to mean specifically 'a saw that uses a continuous band as its blade', a meaning that has remained stable since its formation.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a power saw with a long, continuous band of toothed metal used to cut irregular shapes, curves, or to resaw lumber; used in woodworking and metalworking.
He cut the board on the bandsaw to get a curved edge.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/10 21:54