Serra
(πρίων). A saw. The ancient forms of the saw were identical with those found in our own time, as the accompanying representations show, taken from a Pompeian painting, Gruter, and an Egyptian source respectively. The blade of the saw was called lamina. St. Jerome (In Is. xxviii. 27) is thought to refer to the circular saw; and Pliny (Pliny H. N. xxxvi. 9) speaks of a saw for cutting stone, but toothless, the place of teeth being supplied by emery or very fine sand. The word serrarius denotes a saw-maker, while prista is used of a person who saws.Serrae. |