Standard Lemma guide

backsaw

noun · verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • CMU ARPABET: B AE1 K S AA2 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: B AE1 K S AO2 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A handsaw that has a reinforcement along its back edge.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To cut with a backsaw.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a handsaw that is stiffened by metal reinforcement along the upper edge

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: back saw

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: handsaw, hand saw, carpenter's saw

History

Etymology

From back + saw.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: čepovka — type of handsaw
  • Dutch: kapzaag — type of handsaw
  • Estonian: tapisaag — type of handsaw
  • Estonian: roogsaag — type of handsaw
  • Finnish: selkäsaha — type of handsaw
  • French: scie à dos — type of handsaw
  • German: Feinsäge — type of handsaw
  • Italian: sega a dorso — type of handsaw
  • Norwegian: bakksag — type of handsaw
  • Norwegian: ryggsag — type of handsaw
  • Polish: piła grzbietnica — type of handsaw
  • Portuguese: serrote de costa — type of handsaw
  • Spanish: serrucho de costilla — type of handsaw
  • Swedish: ryggsåg — type of handsaw