- slang a surgeon or doctor
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
saw•bones /ˈsɔˌboʊnz/USA pronunciation
n. [countable], pl. -bones, -bones•es. [singular form is used with a singular verb][Slang.]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Slang Termsa surgeon or physician:An old sawbones like him isn't a bad choice for a doctor.
saw•bones
(sô′bōnz′),USA pronunciation n., pl. -bones, -bones•es. (used with a sing. v.) [Slang.]
- Slang Termsa surgeon or physician.
- saw1 + bone + -s3 1830–40
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
sawbones /ˈsɔːˌbəʊnz/ n ( pl -bones, -boneses)