Where does “hacksaw” come from?

hacksaw (English) comes from English hack, from English hackysack, from English hackeysack, from English sack, from Middle English sak, from Old English sacc, from Old English sæcc, from Proto-West Germanic sakku — sack; sackcloth; sackcloth vestment, penitential...

hacksaw (English): A saw, with a blade that is put under tension,...

Definitions

  1. A saw, with a blade that is put under tension,...

Ancestry of “hacksaw”, step by step

hacksaw traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English hack

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishhackTo chop or cut down in a rough manner; To cough...
2EnglishhackysackAlternative form of hackeysack
3EnglishhackeysackA non-competition sport in which a small sack, or...
4EnglishsackA bag; especially a large bag of strong, coarse...
5Middle Englishsakbag, sackcloth
6Old Englishsaccsack, bag
7Old Englishsæccbattle, strife, fighting
8Proto-West Germanicsakkusack, bag
9Proto-Germanicsakkuzsack, bag, purse
10Latinsaccussack, bag; purse, wallet, moneybag; garment of...
11Ancient Greekσάκκοςsack; sackcloth; sackcloth vestment, penitential...

via English saw

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsawA tool with a toothed blade used for cutting hard...
2Middle EnglishsaweAlternative form of sauf
3Old Englishsagasaw; saying; statement; story, tale; narrative
4Proto-West Germanicsagāstory
5Proto-Germanicsagǭstory
6Proto-Indo-Europeansekʷe-
7Proto-Indo-Europeansekʷ-to follow; to see; to say
Every word from Ancient Greek σάκκοςEvery word from Latin saccusEvery word from Proto-Germanic sakkuz