handsaw

noun

hand·​saw ˈhan(d)-ˌsȯ How to pronounce handsaw (audio)
: a usually unpowered saw designed to be used with one hand

Examples of handsaw in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Start with a small hacksaw, which can get into tough spots that larger handsaws can’t. — Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026 Our tools would be handsaws, bark strippers, and white plastic buckets. — Julie Orringer, Travel + Leisure, 9 June 2026 Workers of the 1920s waded into swamps, armed with axes and handsaws. — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026 Use pruning shears, a small handsaw, or a hatchet to cut below the woody root crown and remove it from the soil. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for handsaw

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of handsaw was in the 14th century

Rhymes for handsaw

See All Rhymes for handsaw

Browse Nearby Words

hands around
handsaw
handsaw fish
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Cite this Entry

“Handsaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handsaw. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

handsaw

noun
hand·​saw ˈhan(d)-ˌsȯ How to pronounce handsaw (audio)
: a saw designed to be used with one hand

More from Merriam-Webster on handsaw

Nglish: Translation of handsaw for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about handsaw

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