Definition of jigsaw

The origin of the word "jigsaw" can be traced back to the mid-19th century, when a toy called the "reconfigurabledissection puzzle" was becoming popular in Europe. These puzzles consisted of intricate designs cut out of thick wooden boards, which could be taken apart and reassembled in different ways, much like a modern-day jigsaw puzzle. One manufacturer of these puzzles, named John Spilsbury, published a catalog in 1771 that described his product as the "Jist-wa Zæ," a contraction of "Japanese puzzles" and the phrasing "it is" in Dutch. These puzzles, with their intricate designs, were intended to be educational and were often used to teach geography, as the shape of countries could be depicted in the puzzle's wooden pieces. The term "jist-wa zæ" was eventually shortened to "jigsaw" in English, and the name stuck, even after Spilsbury's business floundered. Today, the word "jigsaw" is commonly used to describe flat-pack cardboard puzzle games, in which a picture is cut into hundreds or thousands of small pieces and then put back together. Although Spilsbury's puzzles were originally intended for education, jigsaw puzzles have since then become a popular hobby that challenges people's problem-solving abilities and tests their patience.