bastard file
Definition
- Noun:
- A type of file: A "bastard file" is a tool used in metalworking or woodworking. It has a medium-coarse cut, which is rougher than a "smooth file" but finer than a "coarse file." The term "bastard" here refers to the file's intermediate grade of abrasiveness, not to any negative connotation.
Usage Examples
- (A medium-coarse file used for efficient material removal.)
- (A file with a cut that balances speed and finish.)
Advanced Usage
- "to use a bastard file": to employ this specific tool for shaping or smoothing.
- The mechanic always keeps a bastard file in his toolbox for adjusting metal parts. (He uses it for tasks requiring a moderate level of abrasion.)
Variants and Related Words
File (n): a tool with a rough surface for smoothing or shaping materials.
- A flat file is used for general shaping, while a bastard file offers a specific coarseness.
Bastard-cut (adj): describing the intermediate coarseness of a file's surface.
- The bastard-cut file is commonly used in automotive repair for quick metal removal.
Synonyms
- Medium file: a file with a cut that is neither too coarse nor too fine.
- Intermediate file: a file that falls between coarse and smooth grades.
Phrasal Verbs
Related Idioms