Synonyms for "pit saw" include "up-and-down saw", "whipsaw", and "two-man saw". These types of saws were typically used in timber framing and other woodworking industries prior to the invention of modern saws. The pit saw gets its name from the fact that it was operated by two people, one standing in a pit and the other on top of the log. The saw was then operated in an up-and-down motion, with the pit person pulling the saw up while the top person pushed down. The whipsaw, another similar saw, involves two people holding either end of the saw and sawing in a back-and-forth motion.