From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Whipsaw \Whip"saw`\, n.
1. A saw for dividing timber lengthwise, usually set in a
frame, and worked by two persons; also, a fret saw.
[1913 Webster]
2. A kind of narrow ripsaw, tapering from butt to point, with
hook teeth and averaging from 5 to 71/2 feet in length,
used by one or two men.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Whipsaw \Whip"saw`\, v. t.
1. To saw with the whipsaw.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
2. To defeat in, or cause to lose, two different bets at the
same turn or in one play, as a player at faro who has made
two bets at the same time, one that a card will lose and
another that a different card will win; hence, to defeat
in spite of every effort.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
3. to cause to suffer a setback or losses by subjecting to
two forces at the same time or in rapid succession; as,
consumers were whipsawed by both inflation and higher
sales taxes.
[PJC]
4. (Finance) to cause to suffer a series of losses in trading
when buying and selling at the wrong times in a rapidly
fluctuating market; -- especially used when an attempt is
made, by selling short, to recover losses from a long
purchase in a declining market, and the short sale also
results in a loss when the market subsequently rises. Used
mostly in the passive; as, to be whipsawed by exaggerated
responses to a changing outlook.
[PJC]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
whipsaw
n 1: a saw with handles at both ends; intended for use by two
people [syn: {two-handed saw}, {whipsaw}, {two-man saw},
{lumberman's saw}]
v 1: victimize, especially in gambling or negotiations
2: saw with a whipsaw
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