A fine-toothed saw with a narrow blade, held in a frame, used for cutting detailed curves and patterns in wood or other materials.
From 'fret' (possibly from an obsolete sense meaning intricate work) plus 'saw.' The tool was developed for detailed fretwork in furniture and decorative woodworking, prominent in the 19th century.
Fretwork was huge in Victorian furniture—those intricate geometric patterns required the fretsaw to cut. Learning to use one was a key skill for furniture makers, and the tool became iconic for detailed woodworking!
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