What does sawtoothed mean?
Sawtoothed is an adjective describing something with a row of sharp, pointed projections resembling the teeth of a saw. The word is especially common for blades, tools, and cutting surfaces, where the projections help the object grip or cut material. It can also describe teeth or other features that have a jagged, saw-like outline. “Sawtoothed” conveys a clear, regular series of points and is often more specific and vivid than “serrated,” which can describe any edge made up of small notches. In technical and descriptive writing, the related noun “sawtooth” names the toothed pattern or projection itself. The term is understood in both British and American English, with hyphenation varying somewhat according to style.
adjectiveHaving a row of sharp, triangular projections like the teeth of a saw. It is commonly used to describe blades, edges, and other cutting or gripping surfaces.
- Having sharp, regularly spaced projections resembling the teeth of a saw.
"The blade had a sawtoothed edge that made quick work of the branch."
"The shark's sawtoothed skin is covered with tiny tooth-like structures."
"Workers fitted the cutter with a sawtoothed blade for cutting thick steel."
A sawtoothed edge turns one smooth cutting motion into a sequence of sharp, biting points.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sawtoothed come from?
The word is formed from “saw,” “tooth,” and the suffix “-ed,” literally describing something that has the teeth of a saw. “Tooth” is an inherited English word from Old English “tōþ,” while “saw” comes from an Old English word referring to a cutting tool. The related “sawtooth” has long been used for both the individual tooth-like projection and the toothed edge or pattern formed by a series of such projections.
Related word forms
How sawtoothed is actually used
Usually attributive and commonly used with words such as edge, blade, and teeth. It is more visual and specific than the broader word serrated.
Easily confused with sawtoothed
Serrated describes an edge or surface with a series of teeth or notches, while sawtoothed more specifically evokes the pointed teeth of a saw.