fret saw

American  

noun

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

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fret saw British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of fret saw

First recorded in 1860–65

Compare meaning

How does fret-saw compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• fret saw vs. coping saw

Example Sentences

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

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

The slot down the centre is best made with a fret saw, and should be smoothed internally by drawing a strip of fine glass paper to and fro through it.

From Things To Make by Williams, Archibald

A sharp fret saw will remove the inside rectangle.

From Things To Make by Williams, Archibald

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

From Things To Make by Williams, Archibald