Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

handsaw

/hˈændsˌɔ/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.64 in modern English

Syllables: hand-saw
IPA: /hˈændsˌɔ/

14

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A saw small enough to be used by one hand.

noun

Obsolete

Example Sentences

"When the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw."

Etymology

From Middle English handsawe, handsagh, equivalent to hand + saw. Cognate with West Frisian hânseage (“handsaw”), Dutch handzaag (“handsaw”), German Handsäge (“handsaw”), Danish håndsav (“handsaw”), Swedish handsåg (“handsaw”), Icelandic handsög (“handsaw”).

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: handsawe

Usage

Obsolete

Inflected Forms

handsaws (plural)

Frequently Paired Words

backsaw a handsaw that has a reinforcement along its back edge crosscut saw

Synonyms

hand saw carpenter's saw

Questions

How do you pronounce handsaw?: The recorded pronunciation is /hˈændsˌɔ/.
What does handsaw mean?: A saw small enough to be used by one hand.
Where does handsaw come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce handsaw

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “handsaw”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/hˈændsˌɔ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “handsaw”.
Repeat and practice — Say “handsaw” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.