saw

saw¹

noun

1》 a hand tool for cutting wood and similar material, typically having a long, thin serrated blade and operated using a backwards and forwards movement.

    ↘a mechanical power-driven cutting tool with a toothed rotating disc or moving band.

2》 Zoology a serrated organ or part, e.g. the toothed snout of a sawfish.

verb (past participle chiefly Brit. sawn or chiefly N. Amer. sawed)

1》 cut, make, or form with a saw.

    ↘cut as if with a saw, especially roughly.

    ↘make rapid sawlike motions.

2》 (saw off) Canadian compromise by making concessions.

Origin

OE saga, of Gmc origin.

————————

saw²

past of see¹.

————————

saw³

noun a proverb or maxim.

Origin

OE sagu 'a saying, speech', of Gmc origin; related to say and saga.