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Definition of coping saw
coping saw
Plural:coping saws
coping saw Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
7
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A specialized hand saw with a very narrow blade stretched across a D-shaped frame, used in woodworking or carpentry for cutting intricate external shapes, curves, and coped joints.
Example
"The carpenter carefully used a coping saw to cut out the curved profile of the wooden crown molding."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for coping sawWord Nuance & Usage
Often confused with a fret saw; a coping saw has a shallower frame and uses a slightly thicker blade, making it better for cutting thicker wood but less suited for extremely tight, delicate curves.
• Nearby Words
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Coping saw. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/coping saw