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

Donald Trump's version was, "The sawbuck stops here — but blame is for everyone else."

From Salon

Jump-racer Sawbuck — who finished 14th, ninth, 14th, seventh, 16th and 10th in his previous races — came home a winner at a record 300-1 odds at Ireland’s Punchestown racetrack.

From Seattle Times

Sawbuck became the longest-priced winner in the history of jump racing with victory at odds of 300-1.

From BBC

In his six previous races, Sawbuck had finished 14th, ninth, 14th, seventh, 16th and 10th.

From BBC

In 2020, I started saving all of my $5 bills too, meaning I didn’t spend anything under a sawbuck.

From Seattle Times