Throat (Machine Throat Depth)

A machine's throat (or throat depth) is the distance from its cutting edge -- a bandsaw's blade, a coping or fret saw's blade -- back to the solid frame behind it, which sets the maximum width of material that can actually reach the cutter. A bandsaw with a 14-inch throat can cut no more than 14 inches in from any edge of a workpiece before the frame itself physically blocks further travel, regardless of how deep the saw's resaw capacity might otherwise allow vertically.

It's a spec worth checking against actual project needs before buying a saw, not just blade capacity or motor power -- a saw that's otherwise perfectly capable can still be the wrong tool for a project simply because the workpiece is wider than its throat allows.