Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

sawbones

Noun

/ˈsɔːboʊnz/

Definition

A slang term for a surgeon or doctor, particularly one involved in surgical operations.

Examples

During the Civil War, many sawbones were tasked with performing life-saving surgeries on injured soldiers.
The old sawbones in the town had a reputation for being skilled at dealing with complicated cases.
As a young medical student, he admired the sawbones for their bravery and expertise in the operating room.

Meaning

The word ‘sawbones’ typically refers to a physician or surgeon, deriving from the historical use of saws in surgeries, especially amputations, in earlier medical practices.