A power saw with a rapidly rotating circular blade that produces a loud buzzing sound, used for cutting wood or other materials.
Compound word from 'buzz' (the characteristic sound) plus 'saw' (from Old English 'sagu' and Germanic roots, meaning a cutting tool with serrated edge). The term emerged in the industrial era when electric saws became common and their distinctive sound became recognizable.
The buzzsaw became such an iconic sound of industrial America that it's been used in countless songs and films to represent danger, work, and mechanical power. The movie character 'Buzzsaw' is named after this sound—it's raw, aggressive, and unmistakable.
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