fret saw

a long, narrow-bladed saw used to cut ornamental work from thin wood. Compare coping saw.

Origin of fret saw

First recorded in 1860–65

Well, King came in and wanted to know whether we'd done it with a fret-saw!

Stalky & Co. |Rudyard Kipling
The fret-saw (see Part II) is very useful for making wheels.

Toy-Making in School and Home |Ruby Kathleen Polkinghorne and Mabel Irene Rutherford Polkinghorne
The sides A A may be cut out of cardboard or, better still, of three-ply wood with the fret-saw.

Toy-Making in School and Home |Ruby Kathleen Polkinghorne and Mabel Irene Rutherford Polkinghorne
These elephants can be cut with the fret-saw from satin walnut (¼ inch thick).

Toy-Making in School and Home |Ruby Kathleen Polkinghorne and Mabel Irene Rutherford Polkinghorne

These trees, which have very characteristic shapes, can easily be cut out with the fret-saw.

Toy-Making in School and Home |Ruby Kathleen Polkinghorne and Mabel Irene Rutherford Polkinghorne

fret saw

a fine-toothed saw with a long thin narrow blade, used for cutting designs in thin wood or metal