[f. WOOD sb.1 + CUT sb.2 21.] A design cut in relief on a block of wood, for printing from; a print or impression obtained from this; a wood-engraving. (Formerly more freq. called wooden cut: see WOODEN a. 4.)
1662. Evelyn, Chalcogr., 84. All those excellent Wood Cuts of Hans Schirstyn and Adam Altorf.
1816. W. Y. Ottley, Hist. Engraving, I. 102. The wood-cuts, which constitute what are termed the old block-books.
1835. Dickens, Lett. to Miss Hogarth. A new publication … each number to contain four woodcuts.
1857. H. Spencer, in Westm. Rev., April, 460. The brazen face of the knocker which the postman has just lifted, is related not only to the woodcuts of the Illustrated London News which he is delivering, but to the characters of the billet-doux which accompanies it.
attrib. 1865. Way, Promp. Parv., p. xlv. The well-known wood-cut device used by Wynkyn de Worde.
1887. R. R. Bowker, in Harper’s Mag., July, 182/1. Charles Knight’s popular illustrated books … again revived wood-cut work.
