Keith, Only a guess, but I think that it could have come from several meanings of the word, and their use in slang to describe how the file looked or worked. You know the first meaning, the second is any irregular , or counterfeit thing (these are noun usage's) Adverbs include abnormal or irregular in size, shape, or proportion. A bastard file cuts quickly with no finesse as to final shape of the work thus it is a crude cut file. An irregular cut It might be considered counterfeit in that no one would consider it a file because of its rough cut. The cutting teeth on the file, when first made by hand, were hardly a nice even size or shape as the metal is gouged out to make the cutting teeth of the tool. Joe Goss I wondered how a file became known as a "bastard" file. Anyone have > a resource or information concerning the history of this naming, please? >
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