A saw that is held and operated by hand, typically with a blade set in a handle, used for cutting wood.
From Old English 'hand' (the body part) combined with 'saw' (a cutting tool). The word has been used since medieval times to distinguish manual saws from mechanical ones.
Handsaws represent the original personal power tool—before electricity, a carpenter's handsaws were as essential as a chef's knives, and the quality of your saw could determine both the speed and precision of your work.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.