sawdust

American

[saw-duhst] / ˈsɔˌdʌst /

noun

small particles of wood produced in sawing. saw.

sawdust British

/ ˈsɔːˌdʌst /

noun

particles of wood formed by sawing

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of sawdust

First recorded in 1520–30; saw ¹ + dust

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The miller had filled the bag with chalk and sawdust.

From Literature

As the story goes, Michtom and his wife, Rose, subsequently paid tribute to the 26th president by creating a toy they called “Teddy’s bear,” made from clothing scraps and stuffed with sawdust.

From The Wall Street Journal

Pet pulled on her chains and threw hay and sawdust over her back with her gray trunk.

From Literature

The other cowered in a corner, trying to hide under the sawdust.

From Literature

“The boss of sawdust,” Leo says, and the wood starts flying.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023