Old Saw

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