Definition

1. Noun:
   • A surgeon; a physician who performs surgical operations: "sawbones" is an informal, somewhat old-fashioned slang term for a surgeon. The word humorously references the tools (saws) and actions (cutting bones) associated with early surgical practices.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • After the accident, they rushed him to the sawbones. (After the accident, they rushed him to the surgeon.)
  • The old sawbones at the county hospital was known for his steady hands. (The old surgeon at the county hospital was known for his steady hands.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is informal and can carry a tone ranging from affectionate familiarity to mild disrespect, depending on context. It is now considered dated.
  • In many old Western films, the town sawbones was also the barber. (In many old Western films, the town surgeon was also the barber.)

Variants and Related Words

• Surgeon (n): The standard, formal term for a medical doctor specializing in surgery.
• Doc (n, slang): A general, informal term for a doctor or physician.
• Medic (n, informal): A general term for a medical practitioner or student.

Synonyms

• Surgeon: The direct formal synonym.
• Operating surgeon: A more specific term.
• Knife man (slang, archaic): Another historical slang term with a similar meaning.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• To go under the sawbones' knife: An idiomatic phrase meaning to undergo surgery.
  • He had to go under the sawbones' knife to fix his knee. (He had to undergo surgery to fix his knee.)

Noun

1. a physician who specializes in surgery