Old Saw

Posted by Shacheendra on January 26, 2003

In Reply to: Old Saw posted by Bruce Kahl on January 25, 2003

Thanks a lot.

: : Hello, I was just wondering whether any one might know the origin and meaning of the phrase "old saw". Thanks in advance for any information.

: A proverb or maxim, as in "Mom's always repeating the old saw, "Haste makes waste".
: This term uses saw in the sense of saying, and old in the sense of wise rather than old-fashioned.

: Main Entry: saw
: Function: noun
: Etymology: Middle English sawe, from Old English "sagu" discourse; akin to Old High German & Old Norse "saga" tale, Old English "secgan" to say
: Date: before 12th century