I. ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
Etymology: jig (I) + saw
1.
a. : a machine saw with a narrow vertically reciprocating blade for cutting curved and irregular lines or ornamental patterns in openwork
b. : scroll saw
2. : jigsaw puzzle
broken up like a jigsaw loose in its box — Wright Morris
as the pieces of the jigsaw are fitted together — Economist
II. transitive verb
1. : to cut or form by or as if by a jigsaw
coat and skirt jigsawed out of her deceased father's Sunday suit — Francis & Katharine Drake
2. : to arrange or place in an intricate or interlocking way in the manner of the parts of a jigsaw puzzle
giant industrial plants jigsawed together — Cameron Hawley
the place was full of planes, jigsawed into every foot of space — Frank Harvey
III. adjective
1. : made up of pieces cut by a jigsaw
2.
a. : consisting of intricate scrollwork
jigsaw detail around the eaves and windows
gables decorated with jigsaw frills — American Guide Series: Tennessee
b. : marked by the use of intricate scrollwork as decoration
ornamental architecture of the jigsaw period — W.A.White
c.
(1) : suggesting intricate scrollwork
its spectacular jigsaw pattern of islands and inland waterways — W.R.Moore
driving through its jigsaw streets — Kamala Markandaya
transactions … of jigsaw complexity — Lamp
(2) : suggesting a jigsaw puzzle or its separate pieces
the witness may get history across at last in jigsaw bits — Mitchell Dawson