saw English · revision 2498

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /sɔː/, US /sɑː/, /sɔː/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|cutting tool}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1000 (Ælfric's Glossary)|origins=ine-pro *sek-}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The tool is [[inh|enm|sawe]], [[inh|ang|sagu]] (also [[m|ang|saga]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) from [[gem-pro|*sagō|t=a cutting tool]],^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*sek-|t=to cut]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(Barnhart 1988) the root also of [[la|secāre|t=to cut]] and [[m|la|secūris|t=axe]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) Old English [[m|ang|seax|t=knife]] is related.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Its relatives include [[nl|zaag]], [[de|Säge]] and [[non|sǫg]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) and in English [[section]] and [[seesaw]].^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A cutting tool with teeth: Old English ''sagu'', about 1000, in Ælfric's ''Glossary''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The plural ''sagen'' is found about 1125, the northern form ''sagh'' before 1335, and ''sawe'' about 1350.^(Barnhart 1988) The verb is from about 1200,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) at first weak, with the strong participle ''sawn'' appearing by about 1400.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) The ''sawfly'' is named from 1773, after the female's egg-laying organ, and ''saw grass'' from 1822.^(Etymonline) ''Sawbuck'', a frame for holding wood, is American, from 1850, partly from Dutch ''zaagbok''; it also meant a ten-dollar bill from 1850, probably from the X-shaped ends, like the Roman numeral.^(Barnhart 1988) ''Sawed-off'' is from 1887, and of shotguns from 1898.^(Etymonline) A saw played as a musical instrument is recorded by 1905.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – Old English ''sagu'' (Ælfric).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – verb, to cut with a saw.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1400 – participle ''sawn''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1773 – ''sawfly''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1850 – ''sawbuck''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1887 – ''sawed-off''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1905 – the musical saw.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A tool with a thin, usually toothed blade or disc, worked by hand or power, for cutting wood, metal or other hard material.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To cut or shape with a saw.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To move back and forth as if sawing.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ {{homograph|2|saying}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 1000 (Old English sagu)|origins=ine-pro *sekʷ-}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The saying is [[inh|enm|sawe]], [[inh|ang|sagu|t=saying, discourse, speech; a tale]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) related to [[m|ang|secgan|t=to say]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966)^(Hoad 1986) from [[ine-pro|*sekʷ-|t=to say, utter]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) Its relatives include [[de|Sage|t=legend, myth]] and [[non|saga|t=story, tale]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) the source of English [[saga]], a [[doublet]] of ''saw''.^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A saying, discourse, speech: Old English ''sagu'', before 1000.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Middle English form ''sawe'' is found probably about 1150.^(Barnhart 1988) The general senses “speech, talk” and “a story” died out by the 17th century,^(SOED 2002) and a decree or command, a sense found from 1338, by 1595.^(HTOED) The surviving sense, “a proverb, a maxim”, dates from the late 13th century.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) The Century Dictionary called it a contemptuous term for a saying more common than wise.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1000 – Old English ''sagu''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1150 – Middle English ''sawe''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 13th century – a proverb.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1338–1595 – a decree.^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A familiar saying, especially one made trite by repetition; a [[proverb]] or [[maxim]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[say]]

+ * [[saga]]

+ * [[seesaw]]

+ * [[sawyer]]

+ * [[section]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Saw'' is also the past tense of ''see'', from the Old English plural ''sāwon''.^(Etymonline)^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}