What is "scroll saw"

Scroll \Scroll\, n. [A dim. of OE. scroue, scrowe (whence E. escrow), OF. escroe, escroue, F. ['e]crou entry in the jail book, LL. scroa scroll, probably of Teutonic origin; cf. OD. schroode a strip, shred, slip of paper, akin to E. shred. Cf. Shred, Escrow.]

1. A roll of paper or parchment; a writing formed into a roll; a schedule; a list.

   The heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll.
   --Isa. xxxiv. 4.

   Here is the scroll of every man's name.
   --Shak.

2. (Arch.) An ornament formed of undulations giving off spirals or sprays, usually suggestive of plant form. Roman architectural ornament is largely of some scroll pattern.

3. A mark or flourish added to a person's signature, intended to represent a seal, and in some States allowed as a substitute for a seal. [U.S.]
   --Burrill.

4. (Geom.) Same as Skew surface. See under Skew.

   Linen scroll (Arch.) See under Linen.

   Scroll chuck (Mach.), an adjustable chuck, applicable to a lathe spindle, for centering and holding work, in which the jaws are adjusted and tightened simultaneously by turning a disk having in its face a spiral groove which is entered by teeth on the backs of the jaws.

   Scroll saw. See under Saw.

Saw \Saw\, n. [OE. sawe, AS. sage; akin to D. zaag, G. s["a]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.

Note: Saw is frequently used adjectively, or as the first part of a compound.

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 (Zo["o]l.), the great titmouse; -- so named from its harsh call note. [Prov. Eng.]

Saw whetter (Zo["o]l.), 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.

n. A fine-toothed fretsaw with an oscillating blade that can be used to cut out curves and other complicated shapes, accurately.

n. fine-toothed power saw with a narrow blade; used to cut curved outlines [syn: jigsaw, fretsaw]

A scroll saw is a small electric or pedal-operated saw used to cut intricate curves in wood, metal, or other materials. The fineness of its blade allows it to cut more delicately than a power jigsaw, and more easily than a hand coping saw. Like those tools, it is capable of creating curves with edges, by pivoting its table.

The scroll saw's name derives from its traditional use in making scrollwork, sculptural ornaments which prominently featured scroll-head designs.