saw
    n 1: a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important
         fact of experience that is taken as true by many people
         [syn: proverb, adage, saw, byword]
    2: hand tool having a toothed blade for cutting
    3: a power tool for cutting wood [syn: power saw, saw,
       sawing machine]
    v 1: cut with a saw; "saw wood for the fireplace"

Saw \Saw\, n. [OE. sawe, AS. sagu; akin to secgan to say. See
   Say, v. t. and cf. Saga.]
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   1. Something said; speech; discourse. [Obs.] "To hearken all
      his sawe." --Chaucer.
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   2. A saying; a proverb; a maxim.
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            His champions are the prophets and apostles,
            His weapons holy saws of sacred writ. --Shak.
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   3. Dictate; command; decree. [Obs.]
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            [Love] rules the creatures by his powerful saw.
                                                  --Spenser.
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Saw \Saw\ (s[add]),
   imp. of See.
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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.
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   Note: Saw is frequently used adjectively, or as the first
         part of a compound.
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   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.
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Saw \Saw\, v. t. [imp. Sawed; p. p. Sawed or Sawn; p. pr.
   & vb. n. Sawing.]
   1. To cut with a saw; to separate with a saw; as, to saw
      timber or marble.
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   2. To form by cutting with a saw; as, to saw boards or
      planks, that is, to saw logs or timber into boards or
      planks; to saw shingles; to saw out a panel.
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   3. Also used figuratively; as, to saw the air.
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Saw \Saw\, v. i.
   1. To use a saw; to practice sawing; as, a man saws well.
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   2. To cut, as a saw; as, the saw or mill saws fast.
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   3. To be cut with a saw; as, the timber saws smoothly.
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See \See\ (s[=e]), v. t. [imp. Saw (s[add]); p. p. Seen
   (s[=e]n); p. pr. & vb. n. Seeing.] [OE. seen, sen, seon,
   AS. se['o]n; akin to OFries. s[imac]a, D. zien, OS. & OHG.
   sehan, G. sehen, Icel. sj[=a], Sw. se, Dan. see, Goth.
   sa['i]hwan, and probably to L. sequi to follow (and so
   originally meaning, to follow with the eyes). Gr. "e`pesqai,
   Skr. sac. Cf. Sight, Sue to follow.]
   1. To perceive by the eye; to have knowledge of the existence
      and apparent qualities of by the organs of sight; to
      behold; to descry; to view.
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            I will now turn aside, and see this great sight.
                                                  --Ex. iii. 3.
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   2. To perceive by mental vision; to form an idea or
      conception of; to note with the mind; to observe; to
      discern; to distinguish; to understand; to comprehend; to
      ascertain.
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            Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy
            brethren.                             --Gen. xxxvii.
                                                  14.
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            Jesus saw that he answered discreetly. --Mark xii.
                                                  34.
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            Who's so gross
            That seeth not this palpable device?  --Shak.
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   3. To follow with the eyes, or as with the eyes; to watch; to
      regard attentively; to look after. --Shak.
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            I had a mind to see him out, and therefore did not
            care for contradicting him.           --Addison.
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   4. To have an interview with; especially, to make a call
      upon; to visit; as, to go to see a friend.
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            And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of
            his death.                            --1 Sam. xv.
                                                  35.
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   5. To fall in with; to meet or associate with; to have
      intercourse or communication with; hence, to have
      knowledge or experience of; as, to see military service.
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            Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast
            afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen
            evil.                                 --Ps. xc. 15.
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            Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man keep my
            saying, he shall never see death.     --John viii.
                                                  51.
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            Improvement in wisdom and prudence by seeing men.
                                                  --Locke.
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   6. To accompany in person; to escort; to wait upon; as, to
      see one home; to see one aboard the cars.
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   7. In poker and similar games at cards, to meet (a bet), or
      to equal the bet of (a player), by staking the same sum.
      "I'll see you and raise you ten."
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   God you see (or God him see or God me see, etc.), God
      keep you (him, me, etc.) in his sight; God protect you.
      [Obs.] --Chaucer.

   To see (anything) out, to see (it) to the end; to be
      present at, work at, or attend, to the end.

   To see stars, to see flashes of light, like stars; --
      sometimes the result of concussion of the head. [Colloq.]
      

   To see (one) through, to help, watch, or guard (one) to the
      end of a course or an undertaking.
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SAW, n.  A trite popular saying, or proverb.  (Figurative and
colloquial.)  So called because it makes its way into a wooden head. 
Following are examples of old saws fitted with new teeth.

        A penny saved is a penny to squander.

        A man is known by the company that he organizes.

        A bad workman quarrels with the man who calls him that.

        A bird in the hand is worth what it will bring.

        Better late than before anybody has invited you.

        Example is better than following it.

        Half a loaf is better than a whole one if there is much else.

        Think twice before you speak to a friend in need.

        What is worth doing is worth the trouble of asking somebody to
    do it.

        Least said is soonest disavowed.

        He laughs best who laughs least.

        Speak of the Devil and he will hear about it.

        Of two evils choose to be the least.

        Strike while your employer has a big contract.

        Where there's a will there's a won't.