WHIPSAW

whipsaw

(verb) saw with a whipsaw

whipsaw

(verb) victimize, especially in gambling or negotiations

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

whipsaw (plural whipsaws)

a rip saw often operated by two people

Verb

whipsaw (third-person singular simple present whipsaws, present participle whipsawing, simple past whipsawed, past participle whipsawn)

To operate a whipsaw.

(transitive, finance) To cause (a trader) to lose potential profit by buying shares just before the price falls, or by selling them just before the price rises.

(transitive) To defeat someone in two different ways at once.

Of a trade union: to coerce employers into capitulating by bringing them the news that other (more easily convinced) employers have already done so.

(US politics) To accept bribes from multiple parties at once, with the intent of letting down one or more of them.

Adjective

whipsaw (not comparable)

having the characteristic of arguing two sides at once

Source: Wiktionary


Whip"saw`, n.

Definition: A saw for dividing timber lengthwise, usually set in a frame, and worked by two persons; also, a fret saw.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

5 January 2025

PTEROSAUR

(noun) an extinct reptile of the Jurassic and Cretaceous having a bird-like beak and membranous wings supported by the very long fourth digit of each forelimb


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Coffee Trivia

Contrary to popular belief, coffee beans are not technically beans. They are referred to as such because of their resemblance to legumes. A coffee bean is a seed of the Coffea plant and the source for coffee. It is the pit inside the red or purple fruit, often referred to as a cherry. Just like ordinary cherries, the coffee fruit is also a so-called stone fruit.

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