Dictionary
1whipsaw
noun whip·saw \ˈhwip-ˌsȯ, ˈwip-\
Definition of WHIPSAW
: a narrow pit saw averaging 5 to 71⁄2 feet (1.5 to 2.3 meters) in length
ADVERTISEMENT
First Known Use of WHIPSAW
15th century
Rhymes with WHIPSAW
backsaw, band saw, bear claw, bedstraw, blue law, bucksaw, buzz saw, bylaw, case law, catclaw, cat's-paw, chain saw, Choctaw, coleslaw, Corn Law, crenshaw, cumshaw, cushaw, Danelaw, declaw, Esau, forepaw, fretsaw, glass jaw, grandma, grandpa, guffaw, hacksaw, handsaw, hawkshaw, hee-haw, hurrah, in-law, jackdaw, jackstraw, jigsaw, kickshaw, last straw, leash law, lockjaw, lynch law, macaw, Moose Jaw, Nassau, old-squaw, outdraw, outlaw, pasha, pawpaw, pit saw, pooh-bah, poor law, rickshaw, ringtaw, ripsaw, scofflaw, scrimshaw, scroll saw, seesaw, shield law, southpaw, Skiddaw, tack claw, trishaw, tussah, undraw, Utah, Warsaw, wiredraw, withdraw
2whipsaw
verb
Definition of WHIPSAW
transitive verb
1
: to saw with a whipsaw
2
: to beset or victimize in two opposite ways at once, by a two-phase operation, or by the collusive action of two opponents <wage earners were whipsawed by inflation and high taxes>
First Known Use of WHIPSAW
1842
Learn More About WHIPSAW
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: whipsawedPrevious Word in the Dictionary: whip–roundAll Words Near: whipsaw
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up whipsaw? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).