sawbuck

¹

[ saw-buhk ]

noun

1. a sawhorse.

sawbuck

²

[ saw-buhk ]

noun

, Slang.

1. a ten-dollar bill.

sawbuck

/ ˈsɔːˌbʌk /

noun

1. a sawhorse, esp one having an X-shaped supporting structure
2. slang.
   a ten-dollar bill

Word History and Origins

Origin of sawbuck¹

1860–65, Americanism; compare Dutch zaagbok

Origin of sawbuck²

1840–50, Americanism; so called from the resemblance of the Roman numeral X to the crossbars of a sawbuck ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of sawbuck¹

C19: (in the sense: sawhorse) translated from Dutch zaagbok; (in the sense: ten-dollar bill) from the legs of a sawbuck forming the Roman numeral X

Example Sentences

But with this sawbuck one cannot use as heavy logs as with the first one because of the difficulty in handling them.

From Project Gutenberg

Anyhow, we ain' kin make de rabbit look lak he sittin' down w'en de hine legs is stickin' down straight lak de sawbuck.

From Project Gutenberg

They were travelers, not cow punchers, for the pack animal carried a sawbuck pack-saddle and a very small pack.

From Project Gutenberg

A man who was humped over a sawbuck in a nearby yard straightened up and began to pay strict attention.

From Project Gutenberg

As in the case of the riding saddle, the sawbuck pack saddle should be supplied with the double cinch.

From Project Gutenberg