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fret saw

American  

noun

  1. a long, narrow-bladed saw used to cut ornamental work from thin wood.


fret saw British  

noun

  1. a fine-toothed saw with a long thin narrow blade, used for cutting designs in thin wood or metal

"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 fret saw

First recorded in 1860–65

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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.

A sharp fret saw will remove the inside rectangle.

From Things To Make by Williams, Archibald

He bored a hole with the aid of the chisel and hammer, then inserting the fret saw, worked through the width of one of the boards, working against the passage wall.

From '?19,000' by Delannoy, Burford

He only said, "You shall see," and again fumbling in his bag took out a tiny fret saw.

From Dracula by Stoker, Bram

If you have a fret saw, and can use it cleverly, you can make at home as good a puzzle as any that can be bought.

From What Shall We Do Now?: Five Hundred Games and Pastimes by Fisher, Dorothy Canfield

Mark these two holes off carefully, and cut out with a pad saw or fret saw.

From Things To Make by Williams, Archibald