chain saw

¹

noun

1. a power saw, usually portable, having teeth set on an endless chain.

chain-saw

²

Or chain·saw

[cheyn-saw]

verb (used with object)

1. to cut or cut down (lumber, a tree, etc.) with a chain saw.

verb (used without object)

1. to use a chain saw.

chain saw

noun

1. a motor-driven saw, usually portable, in which the cutting teeth form links in a continuous chain

Word History and Origins

Origin of chain saw¹

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50

Origin of chain saw²

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

And then, waving around a chain saw, he said: The solution is to cut government.

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The chain saw was found next to his body.

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Milei’s post-midterms victory speech kindled hope for less chain saw and more coalition building over the next two years, Stock says.

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The messy-haired libertarian economist promised “anarcho-capitalism” and often appears in public with a chain saw to demonstrate how he was aggressively cutting spending to drive change.

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Nail guns tat-tat-tat and chain saws screech on almost every block.

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