hacksaw

American

[hak-saw] / ˈhækˌsɔ /

Or hack saw

noun

a saw for cutting metal, consisting typically of a narrow, fine-toothed blade fixed in a frame.

hacksaw British

/ ˈhækˌsɔː /

noun

a handsaw for cutting metal, with a hard-steel blade in a frame under tension

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

(tr) to cut with a hacksaw

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of hacksaw

First recorded in 1645–55; hack ¹ + saw ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Garfield is best known for Spider-Man and The Social Network, and has previously been Oscar-nominated for Hacksaw Ridge and Tick Tick Boom!

From BBC • Aug. 29, 2025

Recently, former co-worker Andrew Garfield has praised his "Hacksaw Ridge" director for having "done a lot of beautiful healing with himself."

From Salon • Oct. 25, 2024

This is in contrast to Gibson, whose luck has shown signs of turning around in recent years, with film roles and awards recognition for Hacksaw Ridge.

From Slate • Feb. 8, 2019

Even Mel Gibson, Mr Lethal Weapon himself, recently repented with Hacksaw Ridge, a story about a real-life soldier who refused to pick up a firearm.

From The Guardian • Mar. 12, 2018

Hacksaw Ridge Andrew Garfield portrays WWII-era contentious objector, Army combat medic and Medal of Honor recipient Desmond Doss in director Mel Gibson’s fact-based 2016 drama.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 21, 2017

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023