scroll saw

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
scroll saw
    n 1: fine-toothed power saw with a narrow blade; used to cut
         curved outlines [syn: {jigsaw}, {scroll saw}, {fretsaw}]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Saw \Saw\, n. [OE. sawe, AS. sage; akin to D. zaag, G. s[aum]ge,
   OHG. sega, saga, Dan. sav, Sw. s[*a]g, Icel. s["o]g, L.
   secare to cut, securis ax, secula sickle. Cf. {Scythe},
   {Sickle}, {Section}, {Sedge}.]
   An instrument for cutting or dividing substances, as wood,
   iron, etc., consisting of a thin blade, or plate, of steel,
   with a series of sharp teeth on the edge, which remove
   successive portions of the material by cutting and tearing.
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: Saw is frequently used adjectively, or as the first
         part of a compound.
         [1913 Webster]

   {Band saw}, {Crosscut saw}, etc. See under {Band},
      {Crosscut}, etc.

   {Circular saw}, a disk of steel with saw teeth upon its
      periphery, and revolved on an arbor.

   {Saw bench}, a bench or table with a flat top for for sawing,
      especially with a circular saw which projects above the
      table.

   {Saw file}, a three-cornered file, such as is used for
      sharpening saw teeth.

   {Saw frame}, the frame or sash in a sawmill, in which the
      saw, or gang of saws, is held.

   {Saw gate}, a saw frame.

   {Saw gin}, the form of cotton gin invented by Eli Whitney, in
      which the cotton fibers are drawn, by the teeth of a set
      of revolving circular saws, through a wire grating which
      is too fine for the seeds to pass.

   {Saw grass} (Bot.), any one of certain cyperaceous plants
      having the edges of the leaves set with minute sharp
      teeth, especially the {Cladium Mariscus} of Europe, and
      the {Cladium effusum} of the Southern United States. Cf.
      {Razor grass}, under {Razor}.

   {Saw log}, a log of suitable size for sawing into lumber.

   {Saw mandrel}, a mandrel on which a circular saw is fastened
      for running.

   {Saw pit}, a pit over which timbor is sawed by two men, one
      standing below the timber and the other above. --Mortimer.

   {Saw sharpener} (Zool.), the great titmouse; -- so named from
      its harsh call note. [Prov. Eng.]

   {Saw whetter} (Zool.), the marsh titmouse ({Parus
      palustris}); -- so named from its call note. [Prov. Eng.]
      

   {Scroll saw}, a ribbon of steel with saw teeth upon one edge,
      stretched in a frame and adapted for sawing curved
      outlines; also, a machine in which such a saw is worked by
      foot or power.
      [1913 Webster]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Scroll \Scroll\, n. [A dim. of OE. scroue, scrowe (whence E.
   escrow), OF. escroe, escroue, F. ['e]crou entry in the jail
   book, LL. scroa scroll, probably of Teutonic origin; cf. OD.
   schroode a strip, shred, slip of paper, akin to E. shred. Cf.
   {Shred}, {Escrow}.]
   1. A roll of paper or parchment; a writing formed into a
      roll; a schedule; a list.
      [1913 Webster]

            The heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll.
                                                  --Isa. xxxiv.
                                                  4.
      [1913 Webster]

            Here is the scroll of every man's name. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Arch.) An ornament formed of undulations giving off
      spirals or sprays, usually suggestive of plant form. Roman
      architectural ornament is largely of some scroll pattern.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. A mark or flourish added to a person's signature, intended
      to represent a seal, and in some States allowed as a
      substitute for a seal. [U.S.] --Burrill.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. (Geom.) Same as {Skew surface}. See under {Skew}.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Linen scroll} (Arch.) See under {Linen}.

   {Scroll chuck} (Mach.), an adjustable chuck, applicable to a
      lathe spindle, for centering and holding work, in which
      the jaws are adjusted and tightened simultaneously by
      turning a disk having in its face a spiral groove which is
      entered by teeth on the backs of the jaws.

   {Scroll saw}. See under {Saw}.
      [1913 Webster]
    

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