# ripsaw

Pronunciation: say "RIP-saw" US /ˈɹɪpˌsɔ/, UK /ˈɹɪpˌsɔː/

## Noun

1. A saw built to cut wood along the grain, performing a lengthwise rip cut.
   - Simple: A hand tool with large teeth for cutting wood along the grain.
   - _A carpenter reaches for a ripsaw when splitting a plank along the grain._
   - _The teeth on this ripsaw are filed for fast cutting parallel to the fibers._
3. A style of music in which a handsaw is scraped as a percussion instrument along with other instruments, originally linked mainly with the Turks and Caicos Islands. *(Caribbean)*
   - Simple: A style of music from the Turks and Caicos Islands, made using a handsaw and other instruments.
   - _The band closed the set with a lively ripsaw that filled the dance floor._
   - _Visitors to the islands often hear ripsaw performed at local celebrations._

## Verb

2. To saw wood lengthwise along the grain with a ripsaw.
   - Simple: To cut wood along its grain using a ripsaw.
   - _Carpenters ripsaw rough boards to width before joining them._
   - _He decided to ripsaw the oak along its length for the tabletop._

## Origin

Formed from "rip" plus "saw".

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/ripsaw (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).