keyhole saw
1
6.8
- noun
- /ˈkiːhoʊl sɔː/
- US
:
sierra de ojo de cerradura
- For her DIY project, she chose a keyhole saw to create small curves in the plasterboard.
Examples
-
The keyhole saw cuts through the railing.
Fiction book (1993) -
Used a keyhole saw (pointed end, pistol grip) to cut small boxes for wall plates.
Blog text (14) -
The carpenter used a keyhole saw to cut intricate designs into the wood.
-
To install the new light fixture, he carefully made the hole using a keyhole saw.
Synonyms
54
1.0
A tool with a thin toothed blade used to cut wood or other materials
1
2.1
A saw used with one hand to cut wood
1
6.9
A small hand saw with a thin blade in a U-shaped frame for cutting curves in wood
A small tool with a long, narrow, pointed blade for cutting tight curves in wood
A hand tool with a thin blade for cutting small curved shapes in wood
How Precise
- Specialized
2
7.3
- Specialized
1
6.9
- US
1
6.8
- Specialized
3
4.9
3
2.3
Surface Forms
Morphology
keyhole + saw
The compound is transparently compositional: 'keyhole' (a small hole for a key) + 'saw' (a cutting tool) yields a saw used for cutting small holes or tight curves. This follows a common English noun‑noun pattern for naming tools, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents should be able to infer the meaning.
Etymology
Keyhole saw gets its name from a thin, pointed blade that can cut tiny openings like a door keyhole. That's why the name means a small saw used for 'small, tight cuts'.