What does kerf mean?
A kerf is the narrow slot, groove, or cut produced by a saw, axe, blade, or another cutting tool. The word can denote the cut itself or, more specifically, its width—the amount of material removed as the tool passes through wood, metal, stone, or another substance. Accurate kerf width is important in woodworking and machining because a cut that is too wide can leave too little material for a strong, precise joint, while an unusually narrow cut may waste less material but require more skill or a sharper tool. As a verb, “to kerf” means to make such a cut or groove. Although the word sounds unfamiliar to many speakers, it is well established in technical and craft vocabulary. It is especially useful when discussing saw blades, cutting tolerances, joints, and the physical consequences of removing material with an edged tool.
The narrow cut, groove, or space made by a saw, axe, blade, or similar cutting tool; also the width of such a cut or the material removed by it.
"Measure the kerf before fitting the two pieces together."
Common in woodworking, metalworking, and machining; it may refer to the groove itself or specifically to the cut's width.
To make a narrow cut or groove in a material with a saw, blade, or similar tool.
"The operator kerfed the board before inserting the tenon."
Chiefly used in technical or craft contexts and less common than the noun.
The plural is regular and is used when referring to multiple cuts or grooves.
"The guide accounts for the kerfs left by each blade."
A kerf is the thin line a saw leaves behind—and the slightly wider space it removes, which can make a precise cut surprisingly important in woodworking.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does kerf come from?
The word entered English in the seventeenth century in the sense of a cut or notch, derived from an older form of “kerve,” meaning to cut or carve. “Kerve” and “carve” belong to the same Germanic family and reflect a root associated with cutting or carving. The modern technical sense, especially the width of a saw cut, developed from the word's early meaning as the groove itself.
Related word forms
How kerf is actually used
The term is especially common in woodworking, metalworking, and machining, where the width and position of a cut can affect the fit of a joint or component. As a verb, it is less common than the noun and is chiefly technical.
Easily confused with kerf
Kerve is an archaic verb meaning to cut or carve, while kerf names the cut or groove itself or the width of material removed by a cutting tool.