jigsaw

[jig-saw]

noun

1. Also jig saw an electric machine saw with a narrow blade mounted vertically in a frame, for cutting curves or other difficult lines or patterns.

verb (used with object)

jigsawed, jigsawed, jigsawn, jigsawing. 

1. to cut or form with a jigsaw.

adjective

1. formed by or as if by a jigsaw.

   jigsaw ornamentation.

jigsaw

/ ˈdʒɪɡˌsɔː /

noun

1. a mechanical saw with a fine steel blade for cutting intricate curves in sheets of material

2. See jigsaw puzzle

Word History and Origins

Origin of jigsaw¹

First recorded in 1870–75; jig ² + saw ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of jigsaw¹

C19: from _jig (to jerk up and down rapidly) + _saw ¹

Example Sentences

To solve what amounted to one of history’s greatest jigsaw puzzles, the INA put together a team of Turkish and American archaeology students and put them to work.

Read more on Literature

The diffuse structure of nonlinear novels engaged readers in a new and unexpected way, inviting them to piece together scattered episodes in the manner of a jigsaw puzzle.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But miles beneath the soil and sand, the mountains and oceans, Earth’s lithosphere is broken into a clumsy jigsaw puzzle of rock.

Read more on Literature

But standing in the way of such a hybrid plan is a jigsaw puzzle of land rights and owners’ agendas, some known, others tightly guarded.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

This is a jigsaw puzzle we've been putting together for five years.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• break 
• crack 
• damage 
• divide 
• grab 
• injure 
• mangle 
• pull 
• rive 
• rupture 
• separate 
• sever 
• shred 
• slash 
• snatch 
• split 
• wrench 
• yank