Forms: 3 cute, 4 kot, kuytte, 4–5 kut, kutt(e, kytt(e, kitt(e, 5 kette, cytte, 5–6 kyt, kit, 5–7 cutt(e, 6– cut. Pa. t. α. 3–5 cutt(e, 4– cut; also 4 kut, kit, citte, 4–5 kutte, kytte, kitte, 5 kyt; β. 4 kittide, kottede, 5 cutted, (pl.) kuttiden, 6 Sc. cuttit. Pa. pple. α. 4 kit, kitt(e, ikett, 4–5 kut, kutt(e, y-kyt(t, 4–6 cutte, 4–7 cutt, 5 y-kitt, ykette, 5–6 kyt, 5– cut; β. 4 kytted, kittid, 4–6 cuttid, 4–7 (9 dial.) cutted, 5 cuttyd, -ede, 6 Sc. cuttit. [Found in end of 13th c., and in common use since the 14th c., being the proper word for the action in question, for which OE. used sníðan, ceorfan. The phonology is doubtful; the early variants cutte, kitte, kette, with pa. pple. cut, kyt, kit, kett, are parallel to the early variants of SHUT, OE. scyttan, and point to *cyttan, kytten (from *cutian) as the original form, an earlier y (ü), having here, as in shut and other words, given later u (now v). The word is not recorded in OE. (nor in any WGer. dialect), and there is no corresponding verb in Romanic. Mod. Norwegian kutte = skjære to cut (chiefly used by sailors) is certainly adopted from English; but a verb kåta, (kutå) = skära, hugga to cut, is widely diffused in Swedish dialects, and app. an old word, from an OTeut. stem *kut-, *kot-, which is probably the source also of the Eng. vb., whatever the intermediate history of the latter.
A conjectured derivation of cut from Welsh cwta ‘short’ is in the opinion of Prof. Rhŷs quite untenable. Neither cwta nor any of its derivatives have any relation whatever to the use of a knife or other cutting instrument; while the South Wales cwt = cut, gash, e.g., in the hand, is a mere adoption of the Eng. sb.]
I. To make incision in or into.
1. trans. To penetrate with an edged instrument which severs the continuity of the substance; to wound or injure with a sharp-edged instrument; to make incision in; to gash, slash.
c. 1275. Lay., 30581. He cutte [1205 nom] his owe þeh … þar of he makede breade [= roast].
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 392. Ther was mani throte y-kitt.
1382. Wyclif, Isa. xxxvii. 1. He kutte [1388 to rente] his clothis, and wrappid is with a sac.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode (1869), 122. At the laste he kitte his owen throte.
1502. Arnolde, Chron. (1811), 165. Kyt it wyth a knyf and late it be opened.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 278. Cutte me, burne me, launce me.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 196. The ordinary tricke of cutting and slashing their skin.
1694. Congreve, Double-Dealer, I. v. Cut a diamond with a diamond.
1779. Gentl. Mag., XLIX. 466. No lives were lost in the riot, though one or two of the country people were cut.
1830. Cooper, Dict. Surgery (ed. 6), 826. He [Cheselden] cut another part of the bladder.
1885. Truth, 11 June, 921/1. A detective … cut the boy’s head open by knocking it against a lamp-post.
Mod. Who has cut the table-cloth?
b. Predicated also of the edged instrument or material (a knife, glass, etc.); also transf. of keen cold wind, frost, or the like.
1738. Swift, Pol. Conversat., iii. 198. Sharp’s the Word with her; Diamonds cut Diamonds.
2. absol. or intr. To make incision. With various preps. as in, through, etc., or adv. or adj. complement.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., IV. i. 280. For if the Iew do cut but deepe enough, Ile pay it instantly, with all my heart.
1664. Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 190. Cut close to the Stem.
1830. Cooper, Dict. Surgery (ed. 6), 825. Cheselden thought it unnecessary to cut on the groove of the staff.
1833. A. Fonblanque, Eng. under 7 Administr. (1837), II. 319. [The late Parliament] excised the cancer, and it did not cut deep enough.
1861. Mill, Utilit. (1863), 83. Any attempt on their part to cut finer.
b. Said of the instrument; also transf. and fig.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 32 (MS. B.). Cold matere streyneþ, drye matere kutteþ. Ibid., 127 (MS. A.). & þis schave schal kutte on þe side þat foldiþ ynward & it schal be blunt on þe oon side þat is outward.
a. 1633. G. Herbert, Jacula Prudentum. The tongue is not steel, yet it cuts.
1605. Hickeringill, Priest-cr., II. Pref. A iij b. Fame, like a two-edg’d Sword, does cut both ways.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., VI. § 8. Edged tools are in general designed to cut.
1830. Gen. P. Thompson, Exerc. (1842), I. 290. Whether the razor did or did not cut well.
c. With complement (prep., adv. or adj.).
1713. Addison, Cato, I. vi. Tormenting thought! it cuts into my soul.
1809. Cobbett, Pol. Reg., 25 March, 421. The argument … cuts deeper against him than for him.
1888. Rider Haggard, Col. Quaritch, I. i. 7. The bullet cut through his enemy.
d. intr. in passive sense. To suffer incision, admit of being cut: see 13.
3. To strike sharply with a whip, a thin stick or the like; to lash. Also said of the whip, etc. trans. and absol.
1607. Dekker & Webster, Westw. Hoe, V. i. I cut hym ouer the thumbs thus.
1765. Ann. Reg., 278. In rugged ways, the reins and steeds Alone the skilful driver heeds, Nor stays to cut behind.
1872. Black, Adv. Phaeton, xix. 275. He cut at … the hedges with his stick.
1877. H. Smart, Play or Pay, i. (1878), 19. Will anybody fetch me a pair of spurs and a whip that will cut?
4. Fencing, etc. (intr.) To make a cut or slashing stroke: see CUT sb.2 2 b.
1833. Regul. & Instr. Cavalry, I. 141. Recovering the sword ready to cut to the rear. Ibid., 142. Raise the hand prepared to cut ‘One.’
Mod. One of the dragoons cut at him.
5. fig. (trans.) To wound deeply the feelings of; to distress greatly. Now chiefly in phr. to cut to the heart. (Cf. cut up 59 h; CUTTING ppl. a.)
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Acts v. 33. When they had heard these things, it cut them to the hart.
c. 1680. Beveridge, Serm. (1729), II. 4. Every word in it will cut them to the heart.
1688. S. Penton, Guardian’s Instr., 75. Never disgrace the Child or upbraid him with his Follies before Strangers: this may cut him too much, and never be forgotten.
1782. Miss Burney, Cecilia, III. viii. He says something so sorrowful that it cuts us to the soul!
1805. Lamb, Lett. (1888), I. 220. I have been very much cut about it indeed.
1871. Carlyle, in Mrs. Carlyle’s Lett., III. 243. Often enough had it cut me to the heart, to think what she was suffering.
† 6. fig. To rebuke severely, to upbraid. Obs.
1737. Whiston, Josephus’ Antiq., II. vi. § 8. Reubel also was large in cutting them upon this occasion.
II. To make incision through.
7. trans. To divide into two or more parts with a sharp-edged instrument; to sever. Used simply of cord, string, and the like, and of bread, wood, or other articles cut for use. Const. in two († atwo), asunder, etc.; in, into parts or pieces; also with adj. complement. Cf. cut up, cut down.
c. 1300. K. Alis., 2709. Mony hed atwo y-kyt.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 8875 (Fairf.). Wiþ ax he walde haue kut hit [the tree] þan. Ibid., 16554 (Trin.). & cut þis tre in two.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 165. Sche … kutte þe hyde into a þong þat was ful long and ful smal.
c. 1430. Freemasonry (1844), 735 (Mätz.). Kette thy bred al at thy mete Rigth as hyt may be ther yete.
c. 1430. Two Cookery-bks., 21. Take clowes and kutte hem.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, i. 56. He cutted hym asonder.
a. 1541. Wyatt, Poems (1861), 135. With his fatal knife the thread for to kit.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xix. 67. Cutting her cables … and sailing away with all the speed he could.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., IV. 371. The Dutch way of cutting and eating asparagus.
b. fig. To sever, divide (a connection, association, etc.).
1625. Bacon, Ess., Friendship (Arb.), 173. It [Friendship] redoubleth Ioyes, and cutteth Griefes in Halfes.
1668. Dryden, Evening’s Love, IV. iii. ’Tis well there was no love betwixt us; for they [your scissars] had been too dull to cut it.
1876. E. Jenkins, Blot on Queen’s Head, 13. The inn-keeper … is a fool if he suddenly cuts the associations which endear it to all his customers and guests.
c. To cut to (or in) pieces: (fig.) to rout in battle with great slaughter.
1632. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 79. The foote were cut all to pieces.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., III. 235. [Alaric] surprised, and cut in pieces, a considerable body of Goths.
1838. Thirlwall, Greece, II. 347. The Theban cavalry … suddenly fell upon them, cut to pieces six hundred, and drove them into the hills.
8. spec. To carve (meat); also absol.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., I. iii. 130. And. Faith, I can cut a caper. To. And I can cut the Mutton too ’t.
1738. Swift, Pol. Conversat., ii. 121. Don’t cut like a Mother-in-Law, but send me a large Slice.
1888. Rider Haggard, Col. Quaritch, x. Ida allowed Mr. Quest to cut her some cold boiled beef.
b. (slang or colloq.) To cut it too fat: to ‘come it strong,’ overdo a thing.
1836–9. Dickens, Sk. Boz, 54. Gentlemen in alarming waistcoats and steel watch-guards … ‘cutting it uncommon fat.’
1854. W. G. Curtis, Potiphar Papers, 131 (Bartlett). But to have a philosopher of the Sennaar school show you why you are so [uncomfortable], is cutting it rather too fat.
9. To make a narrow opening through (a dyke, etc.), or through the bank of (a canal), so as to let the water escape.
1590. [see CUTTING vbl. sb. 1].
1677. Lond. Gaz., No. 1232/3. Report said the French … had cut the Canal. Ibid. (1710), 4582/1. Orders are … given for cutting the Scarpe at Bioche … in order to draw off the Water … into the adjacent Marshes.
1831. Palmerston, in Sir H. Lytton Bulwer, Life, II. IX. 117, note. This extensive inundation was carried into effect by cutting the great sea-dykes.
b. Mining. To intersect (a vein of ore).
1778. W. Pryce, Min. Cornub., 319. Cut, to intersect a vein, branch, or lode by driving horizontally or sinking perpendicularly.
1881. in Raymond, Mining Gloss.
c. with through.
1883. Manch. Guardian, 15 Oct., 5/7. To shorten the course of the river … by cutting through the neck of the low land opposite Greenwich.
10. To break up, reduce or dissolve the viscidity of (a liquid, phlegm, etc.).
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, II. lxxv. 248. The same … cutteth or severeth the grosse humors.
1657. W. Coles, Adam in Eden, lxxv. 142. It [Hyssop] cutteth and breaketh tough Phlegme.
1698. Petiver, in Phil. Trans., XX. 333. The Root … taken in Water corrects and cuts tough Phleagm.
1743. Lond. & Country Brewer, IV. (ed. 2), 305. It will cut and cure a Butt of ropy Beer.
11. To separate the leaves of (a book) by cutting through the folds of the sheets with a paper knife. (Properly to cut open.)
1786. Mad. D’Arblay, Diary, 2 Aug. The Queen had given me a new collection of German books … to cut open for her.
1848. Thackeray, Lett., 28 July. I thought I would begin to cut open a book I had bought.
Mod. This book is not cut. I have cut a few leaves at the beginning.
12. To divide with an edged instrument, as an ax, saw, sickle, etc. (a natural growth) for the purpose of taking the part detached; to reap (corn), mow (grass), hew (timber), etc.
This passes into branch III.
c. 1300. Havelok, 942. Al that euere shulden he nytte, Al he drow, and al he citte.
c. 1400. Maundev. (1839), xv. 168. Whan it is ripe … than men kytten hem.
1419. in Surtees Misc. (1890), 14. Thay that has taken tham to ferme … sall kytte the herbage.
1512. Act 4 Hen. VIII., c. 1 § 4. It [shall] be laufull … to cutte and to hew heth in any mannes grounde.
1611. Bible, 2 Chron. ii. 8. Thy seruants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon.
1817. W. Selwyn, Law Nisi Prius (ed. 4), II. 1218. Until it [the crop] was cut and carried away.
b. The object may be unexpressed, or may be the ground on which the crop grows.
1789. Trans. Soc. Encourag. Arts, II. 73. I cut one perch of ground … the produce of which weighed five hundred and one pounds.
1876. Saunders, Lion in Path, i. The more distant meadows are cut.
1892. Sporting & Dram. News, 14 May, 328/2. The mowers have commenced ‘cutting’ at the earliest streak of daylight.
13. intr. (in pass. sense). To suffer incision, to get cut; to admit of being cut; to turn out of a specified quality on being cut.
1560. Nice Wanton, in Hazl., Dodsley, II. 172. I will make your knave’s flesh cut.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., Alabaster cuts very smooth and easy.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., III. xxiii. 218. None could come near to feel his estate; it might therefore cut fatter in his purse.
1834. Medwin, Angler in Wales, II. 138. The trout … cut red.
1839. De Quincey, Casuist. Roman Meals, Wks. 1863, III. 264. Who would think that a nonentity could cut into so many somethings?
1882. Nares, Seamanship (ed. 6), 157. Chain … is not so liable to cut against rocks.
Mod. The cloth does not cut to advantage.
b. To yield when cut or shorn (as sheep).
With advb. complement passing into simple object.
1854. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XV. I. 228. The Hampshiredowns … cut a heavier fleece than the Southdowns. Ibid. (1858), XIX. I. 59. The half-breds cut less wool than the Shropshire Downs.
III. To separate or detach with an edged tool.
14. trans. To separate or remove by cutting; to sever from the main body; to lop off. With const. from or equivalent prep., or advb. complement, as adrift; also frequently cut away, cut off, cut out.
† To cut a purse: to steal it by cutting it from the girdle to which it was suspended.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter cxviii. 39. Cute mine up-braidinge [Wyclif 1382 Kut of my repref, 1388 Kitte awey my schenschip].
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 3715. Þe lymes þat er cutted fra þe body.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 347. Till he the mannes purs have kut.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), III. 473. Thauȝhe Alexander kytte [absciderit] myne hede he may not sle my sawle.
c. 1450. Mirour Saluacioun, 2603. All the braunches of the tree shuld be kitted.
1585. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., I. 216, II. 297. There, was a schole howse sett upp to learne younge boyes to cutt purses.
1632. J. Lee, Short Surv. Sweden, 84. Christopher, cut out of his mothers wombe, and shortly after, both he and his mother dyed.
1694. Acc. Sev. Late Voy., II. (1711), 173. So cut the Fat from it by pieces.
1745. P. Thomas, Jrnl. Anson’s Voy., 175. We were obliged, after much Fatigue, to cut the Raft adrift, which was lost.
1842. Gen. P. Thompson, Exerc., VI. 413. Halfpenny-worths of bread cut off the loaf.
† b. = Cut off (55 b). Obs.
1583. Stocker, Hist. Civ. Warres Lowe C., I. 72 b. Hee made also a bridge ouer the Maze, that he myght … cut the enemie from victuals.
1789. Triumphs of Fortitude, II. 63. We cannot be cut from the privileges … of friendship.
IV. To pass through as in cutting.
15. trans. To divide, separate, pierce, intersect, run into or through: expressing relative position, not motion. Also intr. with through, etc.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), II. 47. And from that hit [Watling strete] kyttethe ouer [transcindit] Seuerne nye to Worcestre.
c. 1590. Marlowe, Faust., Wks. (Rtldg.), 91/2. Just through the midst runs flowing Tiber’s stream With winding banks that cut it in two parts.
1665. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1677), 31. Places very hot … in regard the Æquinoctial cuts them.
1811. Pinkerton, Petral., I. 314. Serpentine mountains, which it [steatite] cuts through in small, perpendicular, or rake veins.
1869. Whittier, Norembega, vii. Yon spire … That cuts the evening sky.
1885. Law Rep., 14 Q. Bench Div. 919. The old part of the path which the line had cut across.
b. Geom. Of a line (or surface): To pass through or across, to cross (a line or surface), intersect.
1570. Billingsley, Euclid, I. xxiii. 33. The two pointes, where the circumference of the circle cutteth the lines.
1660. Barrow, Euclid, III. Def. ii. The right line FG cuts the circle FED.
1746. Tom Thumb’s Trav. Eng., 114. Most of the Streets … cut one another at Right Angles.
1862. Todhunter, Elem. Euclid, I. xv. If two straight lines cut one another, the vertical, or opposite, angles shall be equal.
† 16. To cross (a line): expressing motion.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 11. The last of May after a storme wee cut the Tropique of Capricorne.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., II. xxi. 136. Then cutting the Line, they view the face of that heaven which earth hideth from us.
b. To come across, strike, hit upon (a path, etc.).
1892. Field, 23 Jan., 119/1. At length we cut our spoor again, and hunted it along carefully and slowly.
17. intr. To cross, to pass straight through or across; esp. cut over, cut across (adv. or prep.).
1551. Acts Privy Council Eng., III. 320. The Marishall … woll passe by lande to Dovour, and from thens cutt over to Bulloigne.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 236. Thus have I walked about this whole Diocese: now therefore let me cutte over to Watlingstreete.
1581. Marbeck, Bk. of Notes, 163. Except the ships cut and take course even justlie betweene both, they hardlie scape drowning.
1600. Holland, Livy, XXVIII. ii. 669 b. Before that he cut over the streights of Gibraltar to Gades.
1610. Guillim, Heraldry, III. ii. (1660), 107. Cutting through the Magellanike Straits … he encompassed the whole world.
1823. New Monthly Mag., VIII. 500. A few of the most active cut across to the shallows.
1858. R. S. Surtees, Ask Mamma, xiv. 47. They cut across the deer studded park.
18. trans. To pass sharply through, cleave (the air, the water).
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 423. Shippes … cut the waves as they are furthered with a merrie winde.
1596. Spenser, Hymn, Heav. Love, 69. With nimble wings to cut the skies.
1696. Tate & Brady, Ps. viii. 8. The Fish that cuts the Seas.
1709. Watts, Hymn, ‘Awake, our Souls,’ v. Swift as an Eagle cuts the air.
1870. Bryant, Iliad, I. II. 74. In his beaked galleys, swift to cut the sea.
b. intr. with through.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., I. iii. 40. Behold The strong ribb’d Barke through liquid Mountaines cut.
1694. Acc. Sev. Late Voy., II. (1711), 33. This same noise the Ships make likewise when they cut through the Sea.
1728. Pope, Dunc., I. 182. And pond’rous slugs cut swiftly thro’ the sky.
1848. Thackeray, Lett., 28 July. The ship cutting through the water at fifteen miles an hour.
19. slang or colloq. (intr.) To run away, make off, ‘be off.’ Also to cut it. (See also cut and run 40.) Originally with away, off.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. vi. 5. It [a boat] cut away upon the yielding wave.
1591. Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. i. Wks. (Grosart), 841 (D.). I fear to faint if (at the first) too fast I cut away, and make too hasty haste.
1664. Cotton, Scarron., IV. Poet. Wks. (1765), 90. Put on the wings that used to bear ye, And cut away to Carthage quickly.
1844. P. Parley’s Annual, V. 140. The door of her prison was opened, and the turnkey told her that she might ‘cut.’
1858. Trollope, Dr. Thorne, ix. Now, my lady, do cut it, cut at once.
1882. Macm. Mag., XLVI. 443/2. I looked out of the tail of my eye, to see what she was doing, but she’d cut.
b. Hence, To move sharply, to run rapidly. With various advbs. and preps.
1857. Hughes, Tom Brown, II. iii. We all cut up-stairs after the Doctor.
1873. Black, Pr. Thule, xiv. 219. And now the carriage cut round the corner.
1878. ‘Stonehenge,’ Brit. Sports, I. I. vii. § 10. 109. The rabbits … cut in and out of the rides or runs.
V. To shorten or reduce by cutting.
20. trans. To shorten or reduce by cutting off a portion; to trim, clip, shear; to prune.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 7240 (Gött.). Quilis he slep scho cutt his her.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 973, Dido. Hire clothis cutte were un-to the kne.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., I. 127. To kytte a vyne is thinges iij to attende.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 111. Cutte vynes, puto.
1665–72. Wood, Life (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), II. 69. To my barber for cutting my haire, 6d.
1878. Morley, Diderot, I. 136. Diderot and his colleagues are cutting their wings for a flight to posterity.
21. fig. To curtail, abridge, shorten, reduce; to shorten (a play, etc.) by omitting portions; = cut short, cut down.
1413. Lydg., Pilgr. Sowle, I. xliii. (1859), 49. Glosynge, cuttynge, kouerynge, and cloutynge the lawe of Crystes gospel.
1585. Jas. I., Ess. Poesie (Arb.), 55. Maist kyndis of versis quhilks are not cuttit or brokin.
1865. Pall Mall Gaz., 24 July, 11/1. In ‘cutting’ an opera it is not to be supposed that any two persons will agree as to what ought to be left out.
1888. Standard, 14 May. The market has begun to cut rates again.
22. Dyeing. To reduce (a color) to a softer shade.
1862. O’Neill, Dict. Calico Printing, 149/2. The colours are cut or reduced by passing the pieces in warm water containing very acid oxymuriate of tin.
VI. To shape, fashion, form or make by cutting.
23. To make or form by cutting (e.g., a statue, engraving, seal, jewel, etc.), to sculpture or carve (a statue or image), to engrave (a plate, seal, etc.), to fashion (a stone or jewel), to shape (garments, utensils, etc.).
15[?]. Ballad on Money, in Halliwell, Nugæ Poeticæ, 48.
| Craftysmen that be in every cyté, | |
| They worke and never blynne; | |
| Sum cutte, sum shave, sume knoke, sum grave, | |
| Only money to wynne. |
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., I. i. 84. Why should a man … Sit like his Grandsire, cut in Alablaster?
1623. B. Jonson, On Shaks. Portrait, in 1st Folio. This Figure, that thou here seest put, It was for gentle Shakespeare cut.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 146. Their Boots are well sewed, but ill cut.
1662. Evelyn, Chalcogr., 69. We have seen some few things cut in Wood by … Hans Holbein the Dane.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 142, ¶ 5. His Seals are … exquisitely well cut. Ibid., No. 166, ¶ 2. He knows perfectly well when a Coat is well cut.
1874. Boutell, Arms & Arm., x. 196. It was escalloped, or cut into some rich open-work pattern.
1887. Westm. Rev., June, 340. Pointed piles, evidently cut by a metal instrument.
† b. fig. To make ready, prepare, plan; = cut out 56 l. Obs.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. Cut him work to do.
c. pa. pple. Formed, fashioned, shaped (as if by cutting).
c. 1511. 1st Eng. Bk. Amer. (Arb.), Introd. 32/2. His wingis kyt like a rasour.
1850. L. Hunt, Autobiog., II. x. 21. His skull was sharply cut and fine.
1883. S. C. Hall, Retrospect, II. 218. His features were finely cut [etc.].
24. To hollow out, excavate (a hole, channel, canal, road, etc.).
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 87. A streame cut through the Coronian Mountaine. Ibid. (1665) (1677), 36. From Suez … where several attempts have been made to cut such a Sluice or Channel as should give Ships a navigable and free passage from the Mediterranean thither.
1682. Lithgow, Trav., X. 479. Cutting in the middle Circle a devalling Hole.
1772. T. Simpson, Vermin-Killer, 2. Their holes … made round as if cut with an auger.
1798. in Spirit Pub. Jrnls. (1799), II. 43. The canal which is now cutting across the Isthmus of Suez.
1878. Markham, Gt. Frozen Sea, xxii. (1880), 278. The men being employed in cutting a road through the hummocks.
1887. Spectator, 28 May, 723/2. We do not see how the canals are to be cut.
b. To cut one’s way, a passage: to advance by cutting through obstructions.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., II. ii. 16. The powres we beare with vs Will cut their passage through the force of France.
1665. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1677), 34. The Ships cut their way slowly.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 600. He cut his way gallantly through them, and came off safe.
25. To perform or execute (an action, gesture or display of a grotesque, striking or notable kind): chiefly in certain established phrases, as to cut a CAPER, a DASH, a FIGURE, a JOKE, a VOLUNTARY, for which see these substantives. Also, To cut an antic, a curvet, a flourish; to cut faces, to make grimaces, distort the features.
1601. [see CAPER sb.2 1 b].
1664. Cotton, Scarron., IV. (1807), 68. Wilt thou cut faces evermore For husband dead as nail in door?
1688. Shadwell, Sqr. Alsatia, I. i. He shall cut a sham or banter with the best wit or poet of ’em all.
1768–74. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1852), I. 431. Like the twitchings we sometimes feel in our limbs, or habits men get of cutting faces.
1811. W. Irving, Life & Lett. (1864), I. xvii. 262. I cut one of my best opera flourishes. Ibid. (1835), Tour Prairies, xxii. Two of us … saw a fellow … cutting queer antics.
1830. Fraser’s Mag., I. 457. [They] cut a curvet in the air.
VII. Special senses, elliptical, contextual or technical.
26. Surg. a. To castrate.
1465. Mann. & Househ. Exp., 313. Paid for xvij. kokerelles to make capons of … Item, for the kyttynge of them.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. (1586), 150 b. The Bore Pigges they cutte when they were sixe monethes olde.
a. 1643. W. Cartwright, Ordinary, I. ii. The great Turk … did command I should be forthwith cut.
1865. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., Ser. II. V. II. 253. The lamb is stronger for being cut late.
b. To make an incision in the bladder for extraction of stone; also absol. to perform lithotomy.
1566. Securis, Detection, A iij. I will not cut those that haue the stone.
1603. Florio, Montaigne (1632), 433. A Gentleman in Paris was not long since cut of the stone.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, Pref. That they should not cut any man for the Stone.
1782. H. Watson, in Med. Commun., I. 92. The patients cut in our hospitals.
1830. Cooper, Dict. Surgery (ed. 6), 825. Lithotomy, Mr. Cheselden never resumed his second manner of cutting.
† c. To circumcise. Obs. rare.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1638), 236. Such an apostat rascall … is cut and marked for a Mahomitan.
27. Of horses: intr. To strike or bruise the inside of the fetlock with the shoe or hoof of the opposite foot.
1660. Fisher, Rusticks Alarm, Wks. (1679), 139. See … how he … interferes, and cuts one Leg against another, and is not sensible of it.
1675. Lond. Gaz., No. 1028/4. The other a bright bay … trots and gallops only, cuts a little behind.
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., Cutting, in the manage, is when the horse’s feet interfere.
1865. Youatt, Horse, xvi. (1872), 380. Some horses will cut only when they are fatigued or lame and old; many colts will cut before they arrive at their full strength.
28. Naut. (absol.) To cut the cable (in order to get quickly under way). See also cut and run 40.
1707. Lond. Gaz., No. 4378/3. The Enemy had escaped, having … cut and tow’d out.
1743. C. Knowles, in Naval Chron. (1799), I. 107. I made the signal to cut.
1780. Ld. Rodney, Lett., in New Ann. Reg., 42. Ready at a moment’s warning to cut or slip in order to pursue or engage the enemy.
29. Card-playing. (trans. and intr.) To divide (a pack of cards); spec. to do so at random into two or more parts in order to determine the deal, prevent cheating in dealing, etc.
1532. Dice Play (Percy Soc.), 33. At trump … cutting at the neck is a great vantage, so is cutting by a bum card (finely) under & over.
c. 1592. Marlowe, Massacre Paris, I. ii. Thou hast all the cards within thy hands, To shuffle or cut.
1654. R. Whitlock, Ζωοτομια, 425. Shufling and cutting ones selfe a Fortune in this scambling World.
1674. Cotton, Compl. Gamester, in Singer, Hist. Cards, 342. Having shuffled the cards, the adversary cuts them.
1750. Hoyle, Whist (ed. 10), 159. [Rule] xv. You are to cut two Cards at the least.
1793. Sporting Mag., I. 27. The person who cuts the lowest, is entitled to the deal.
1824. Hist. Gambling, 58. Dick stated that he could cut any card he chose at any time.
1878. H. H. Gibbs, Ombre, 19. His left-hand player then cuts to him, lifting, and also leaving, at the least three cards.
30. Dancing. (intr.) To spring from the ground, and, while in the air, to twiddle the feet one in front of the other alternately with great rapidity.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, 228 (T.). Dances, wherein are divers changes, cuttings, turnings, and agitations of the body.
1760. C. Johnston, Chrysal (1822), I. 232. One of them had shewn greater agility, and cut higher, than any one they had ever seen before.
1836–9. Dickens, Sk. Boz. Out went the boots, first on one side then on the other, then cutting, then shuffling. Ibid. (1844), Christm. Carol (1885), 26. Fezziwig ‘cut’—cut so deftly, that he appeared to wink with his legs, and came upon his feet again without a stagger.
31. In various games: a. Cricket. trans. and intr. To hit a length ball, a little wide of the off stump, with a bat held quite, or nearly, horizontal, by which the ball is driven to the left side of point. b. Lawn Tennis. trans. and intr. To strike the ball sharply with the racket held at an angle, or with a downward motion, so as to make it revolve, by which it tends to shoot with a very slight rise on striking the ground. c. Croquet. trans. To drive (a ball) away obliquely by a stroke from another ball.
[1840. Nyren, Cricketer’s Guide, 21. Beldham would cut at such a ball with a horizontal bat.]
1857. Hughes, Tom Brown, II. viii. Johnson … bowls a ball almost wide to the off; the batter steps out and cuts it beautifully to where cover-point is standing very deep.
1888. Steele & Littleton, Cricket (Badm. Libr.), ii. 62. We have never seen Shrewsbury … cut in any other way.
32. Painting. a. trans. (See quot. 1727.) b. intr. Of a color: To show itself obtrusively, stand out strongly.
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., Cutting, in painting, the laying one strong lively colour over another, without any shade or softening.—The cutting of colours has always a disagreeable effect.
c. 1816. Fuseli, Lect. Art, viii. (1848), 508. Those that cut and come forward, first,—and those which more or less partake of the surrounding medium, in various degrees of distance.
33. colloq. (trans.) To break off acquaintance or connection with (a person); also (as a single act) to affect not to see or know (a person) on meeting or passing him. Often emphasized by dead.
1634. S. R[owley], Noble Soldier, II. i. Why shud a Souldier (being the worlds right arme) Be cut thus by the left? (a Courtier?)
1786. G. Colman, in Europ. Mag., IX. 370. Some bow, some nod, some cut him.
1796. Jane Austen, Sense & Sens., xliv. (D.). He had cut me ever since my marriage.
1822. Hazlitt, Table-t., II. viii. 188. To cut an acquaintance … has hardly yet escaped out of the limits of slang phraseology.
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, I. iv. Any fellow voluntarily conversing with an usher was to be cut dead by the whole school.
1887. F. S. Russell, Earl of Peterborough, II. vii. 229–30. He met Bolingbroke … and … cut the ex-Minister dead.
† b. intr. To break off acquaintance or connection with. Obs.
1782. in Mad. D’Arblay, Early Diary (1889), II. 305. Mr. Poor and the Fits’ have cut, which I regret, but poor man nobody likes him.
1808. Southey, Lett. (1856), II. 110. For more than a year Scott has cut with the ‘Edinburgh Review.’
1825. New Monthly Mag., XIV. 180. I’ve cut dead with Lucy Drummond, so you may be perfectly easy in that affair.
c. trans. To renounce, give up, absent oneself from, avoid (a thing).
1791. ‘G. Gambado,’ Ann. Horsem., x. (1809), 109. I shall cut riding entirely.
c. 1814. in C. Whibley, In Cap & Gown (1890), 104. Bid him not set me an imposition For cutting his lectures this morning at eight.
1835. E. Caswall, Art of Pluck (Oxford ed. 6), 37. He that cutteth chapel often.
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxf., vii. (1889), 59. I would cut the whole concern to-morrow.
† 34. Irish Hist. (trans.) To levy (a tax, etc.). Also absol. [Ir. gearraim sraid: cf. F. tailler.]
1596. Spenser, State Irel., 87. Cutting upon every portion of land a reasonable rent.
1610. Davies, 2nd Let. Earl Salisb. (1787), 280. He … had power to cut upon all the inhabitants, high, or low, as pleased him. Ibid. (1612), Why Ireland, etc. 126. I may cut the erick upon the country.
† 35. Thieves’ cant. To speak, talk, say. (trans. and intr.) Obs.
c. 1500. Maid Emlyn, in Anc. Poet. Tracts (Percy Soc.), 17. Than wolde she mete, With her lemman swete, And cutte with hym.
1567. Harman, Caveat, 84. To cutte bene whydds, to speake or geue good wordes…. To cutte, to saye.
1725. in New Cant. Dict., To Cut, to Speak.
1815. Scott, Guy M., xxviii. Meg … has some queer ways, and often cuts queer words.
† 36. intr. ? To shape one’s discourse, trim, try not to commit oneself. Obs.
1672–3. Marvell, Reh. Transp., I. 114. He cuts indeed and faulters in this discourse, which is no good sign.
1710. E. Ward, Brit. Hud., 74. Some Crafty Zealots cut and wheadl’d, And lying vow’d they never meddl’d.
VIII. Phrases.
37. To cut a feather: † a. To make fine distinctions, ‘split hairs.’ Obs.
a. 1633. Austin, Medit. (1635), 69. Nor seeke … with nice distinctions, to cut a Feather [with the Schoolemen].
1684. T. Goddard, Plato’s Demon, 317. Men who … have not the skill to cut a feather.
b. Naut. Of a ship: To make the water foam before her.
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., ii. 10. If the Bow be too broad, she will seldome … cut a feather, that is, to make a fome before her.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., To cut a Feather, when a ship has so sharp a bow that she makes the spray feather in cleaving it.
38. To cut a tooth, one’s teeth: to have them appear through the gums; also fig. to become knowing, attain to discretion; so cut one’s eye-teeth.
1677. Lady Hatton, in Hatton Corr. (1878), 148. Poor little Susana is very ill about her teeth. I hope in God they will not be long before they be cut.
1694. Congreve, Double-Dealer, II. iv. Like a child that was cutting his teeth.
1731. Arbuthnot, Aliments (1735), 414 (J.). When the Teeth is ready to cut.
1860. Reade, Cloister & H., xxx. He and I were born the same year, but he cut his teeth long before me.
1869. Princess Alice, Mem. (1884), 220. Baby … is now cutting his fifth tooth, which is all but through.
39. To cut and carve: see CARVE v. 11. To cut and contrive: to practise economy so as to keep one’s expenses within one’s means. To cut and dry: to render cut and dried: see CUT ppl. a.
1854. Dickens, Hard Times, I. ii. A mighty man at cutting and drying.
1876. Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., I. iii. I am obliged to cut and contrive.
1883. H. Drummond, Nat. Law in Spir. W. (ed. 8), 360. You cannot cut and dry truth.
1888. J. Payn, Myst. Mirbridge, xiv. Cutting and contriving to make both ends meet.
40. To cut and run (Naut.): see quot. 1794; (slang or colloq.) to make off promptly, hurry off.
1794. Rigging & Seamanship, II. 248*. To Cut and run, to cut the cable and make sail instantly, without waiting to weigh anchor.
1821. Byron, Lett. to Murray, 7 Feb. Greek and Turkish craft … were obliged to ‘cut and run’ before the wind.
1861. Dickens, Gt. Expect., v. I’d give a shilling if they had cut and run.
41. To cut loose: a. trans. To loosen or set free by cutting that which fastens or confines; b. intr. To sever oneself, free oneself, escape.
1828. Scott, Tales Grandfather, Ser. I. xxv. Dacre’s quarters were attacked, and his horses all cut loose.
1852. Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., I. vii. 41. In leaving the only home she had ever known, and cutting loose from the protection of a friend whom she loved and revered.
1889. Amelia E. Barr, Feet of Clay, xv. 308. I will cut loose from every entanglement.
† To cut scores: to settle accounts (with): see SCORES. Obs.
42. To cut short: (trans.) a. to shorten by cutting off a part or parts; to abridge, curtail. lit. and fig. (Sometimes to cut shorter.)
1545. Brinklow, Compl., 21. Cut shorter your processe.
1548. Hall, Chron., 202. He was taken and … cut shorter by the hedde.
1611. Bible, 2 Kings x. 32. In those dayes the Lord began to cut Israel short [margin, Hebr. to cut off the ends].
1664. H. More, Apol., 507. I must … cut my skirts as short as I can, that they sit not upon them.
1781. Mad. D’Arblay, Diary, 25 Aug. That gentleman … cut the matter very short, and would not talk upon it at all.
1868. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), II. viii. 293. William cuts the whole story very short.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 149. I will ask you to cut your answers shorter.
b. To curtail, abridge or restrict (any one) in his privileges, means, etc.
1586. A. Day, Eng. Secretary, II. (1625), 29. Your Lordships … cut me yet thirtie pound shorter.
1653. Walton, Angler, 156. Because I cut you short in that, I will commute for it, by telling you that that was told me for a secret.
1672. H. More, Brief Reply, 302. You … unjustly take upon you to cut us short of Salvation.
1755. Johnson, To cut short, to abridge: as, the soldiers were cut short of their pay.
1799. Nelson, in Nicolas, Disp., VII. p. cxciii. I am cut short enough by having no other emolument.
c. To bring to a sudden end, break off, put a stop to abruptly. d. To interrupt abruptly; to stop, ‘pull up’ (a speaker).
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., III. i. 81. The welfare of vs all Hangs on the cutting short that fraudfull man.
1611. Bible, Rom. ix. 28. He will finish the worke, and cut it short in righteousnesse.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Æneid, X. 842 (J.).
| Thus much he spoke, and more he wou’d have said, | |
| But the stern Heroe turn’d aside his Head, | |
| And cut him short. |
1713. Berkeley, Hylas & Phil., I. Wks. 1871, I. 294. It would probably have cut short your discourse.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., IV. 232. But the Admiral … cut him short. ‘I do not wish to hear anything on that subject.’
1873. Black, Pr. Thule, xiv. 222. Her speculations … were cut short by the entrance of her husband.
e. intr. To stop short, be brief.
1691. trans. Emilianne’s Obs. Journ. Naples, 184. I was oblig’d to cut short, and tell her [etc.].
1726. J. M., trans. Trag. Hist. Chev. de Vaudray, 116. To cut short … we broke up.
43. To cut one’s stick (slang): to take one’s departure, be off, go. Also to cut one’s lucky.
1825. Blackw. Mag., XVIII. 42/1. He … has cut his stick mayhap until we sail.
1840. Dickens, Old C. Shop, xl. I’m afraid I must cut my stick.
1844. W. H. Maxwell, Sports & Adv. Scotl., iii. (1853), 47. I am glad you ‘cut your lucky.’
44. To cut the coat according to the cloth: to adapt oneself to circumstances, keep within the limits of one’s means (see CLOTH sb. 10). So also † to cut one’s cloth according to one’s calling.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 16. I shall Cut my cote after my cloth.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxxviii. § 13. To teach them how they should cut their coats.
1622. Fletcher, Beggar’s Bush, IV. i. Keep yourself right and even cut your cloth, sir, According to your calling.
1867. Homeward Mail, 16 Nov., 953/2. Times are changed, and … we must, to use the homely metaphor, ‘cut our coat according to our cloth.’
† 45. To cut sail, one’s sail: see quot. 1692. ? Obs.
1569. Hawkins’ 2nd Voy. W. Ind., in Arber, Garner, V. 88. At which departing, in cutting of the foresail, a marvellous misfortune happened to one of the Officers.
1582. N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Discov. E. Ind., 71 a. The whole Fleete, hauing wayed, did then begin to cut and spread their sayles with a great pleasure.
1692. in Capt. Smith’s Seaman’s Gram., I. xvi. 76. Cut the Sail, that is unfurl it, and let it fall down.
1721. in Bailey.
46. To cut the throat of: (fig.) to destroy, ruin, injure irretrievably.
1637. R. Humphrey, trans. St. Ambrose, Pref. This cuts the throat of that misconceived opinion.
1692. Bp. of Ely, Asst. Touchstone, 10–1. This, which cuts the Throat of the Roman Cause.
1824. Leicester Stanhope, Greece in 1824, 15. Generals … who cut their own throats by word of command.
1867. Froude, Short Stud. (ed. 2), 114. They … believed that Elizabeth was cutting her own throat.
47. To cut it (too) fat: see 8 b.
48. To cut to pieces: see 7 c.
49. To cut the comb of: to lower the pride of: see COMB. To cut the gold (Archery): see GOLD. To cut the grass under, or the ground from under, a person’s feet: see GRASS, GROUND. To cut the hair: to split hairs: see HAIR. To cut the knot: see KNOT. To cut the ROUND, the VOLT, etc.
IX. In comb. with adverbs.
50. Cut about. a. trans. To damage or disfigure by random cutting and chipping of the surface. Chiefly pass.
1874. Dasent, Half a Life, II. 119. The most precious monuments of the Abbey … how cut about and mutilated they are!
b. intr. To run or dart about: see 19 b.
Cut adrift: see 14. Cut asunder: see 7.
51. Cut away.
a. trans. To cut so as to take or clear away, to remove by cutting.
c. 1320. Seuyn Sag., 604 (W.). And his bowes awai i-kett.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 111. Cuttyyn’ a-way, abscindo, amputo.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 4229. Some bad þe bolnyng cutt away.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 399/2. Used to draw up the Cataract off the sight of the eye while it is cuting away.
1886. Besant, Childr. Gibeon, 107. I will cut away the dead leaves.
† b. fig. To take away, remove forcibly; to stop the supply of, cut off. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, 2 Cor. xi. 12. I kitte awey the occasioun of hem.
c. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, I. xx. He þat wolde kutte awey al maner of veyne besines.
1563. N. Winȝet, Cert. Tractates, i. Wks. 1888, I. 10. All errour and abuse being cuttit away.
1707. Freind, Peterborow’s Cond. Sp., 251. Yesterday they cut away the Water of a Mill in this Town.
c. intr. To go on cutting continuously or without cessation: see AWAY 7.
52. Cut back.
a. trans. To prune by cutting off the shoots close back to the main stem or stock.
1871. Shirley Hibberd, Amateur’s Fl. Garden, 210. Early in March cut back all the shoots.
b. To plow the second time, across or at right angles to the first furrow; = CROSS-PLOUGH.
1858. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XIX. I. 65. The ordinary method in this district was for the farmer in the autumn to plough down the field…; in the spring he had it cut back.
53. Cut down.
a. trans. To cut so as to bring or throw down; cause to fall by cutting; to fell.
1382. Wyclif, Matt. iii. 10. Euery tree … shal be kitt [1388 kit] doun.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 2850. To cutte down … Bowis of buskis and of braunches.
1534. Tindale, Matt. xxi. 8. Other cut doune braunches from the trees.
1611. Bible, Deut. vii. 5. Ye shall destroy their altars, and breake downe their images, and cut downe their groues, and burne their grauen images with fire.
1784. Gentl. Mag., LIV. II. 643. A hill contiguous is cutting down.
b. To let fall or take down (the body of one who has been hanged) by cutting the rope.
1547. Boorde, Introd. Knowl., xxxii. (1870), 203. Whosoeuer that is hanged by-yonde see, shall neuer be cutte nor pulled downe.
1563–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1631), III. xii. App. 1023/2. He being hanged till he was halfe dead, was cut downe and stripped.
1883. Gardiner, Hist. Eng. 1603–42, I. vii. 282. The King having given orders that he should not be cut down until he was dead.
c. To lay low or kill with the sword or the like.
1821. Byron, Sardan., II. i. 166. Soldiers, hew down the rebel!… Cut him down.
1874. Green, Short Hist., iii. 154. The Welsh … were cut ruthlessly down in the cornfields.
† d. fig. To put a stop to. Obs. rare.
1577. Northbrooke, Dicing (1843). 177. That the magistrates and rulers may … cut downe this wicked vice that it may be no more vsed.
e. To take the lead of decisively in a race or run; to surpass, get the better of.
1713. Addison, Trial Count Tariff, 2 (J.). So great is his natural Eloquence, that he cuts down the finest Orator, and destroys the best-contrived rgument.
1865. Surtees, Facey Romford’s Hounds, 156. (Illustration) Captain Spurrier ‘cut down’ by Romford.
f. Naut. (See quot. 1769.)
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine, Raser un vaisseau, to cut down a ship, or take off part of her upper-works, as the poop, quarter-deck, or fore-castle, in order to lighten her, when she becomes weak.
1805. Naval Chron., XIII. 174. The … Indiaman … had been cut down.
g. To reduce, abridge, retrench, curtail, esp. a speech, expenses, wages.
1857. Lever, Fortunes of Glencore, I. viii. 109. A system of … cutting down every one’s demand to the measure of their own pockets.
1885. Dunckley, in Manch. Weekly Times, 6 June, 5/5. Only one London newspaper attempts to give the speeches in full, the rest cut them down unmercifully.
1886. Baring-Gould, Court Royal, I. ix. 144. Expenses ought to be cut down in every way at once.
54. Cut in.
a. trans. To carve or engrave in intaglio.
1883. Act 36 & 37 Vict., c. 85 § 3. Her official number … shall be cut in on her mainbeam.
b. Whale-fishery. To cut up (a whale) so as to remove the blubber.
1839. T. Beale, Nat. Hist. Sperm Whale, 185. As soon as possible after the whale has been killed, it is brought alongside the ship to be cut in, by means of instruments which are called ‘spades.’
1840. F. D. Bennett, Whaling Voy., II. 208. The next proceeding of the whaler is to ‘cut in,’ or remove the blubber. Ibid., 210. From three to five hours are required to ‘cut in’ an ordinary school whale.
c. intr. To penetrate or enter sharply or abruptly; esp. so as to make a way for oneself or occupy a position between others.
1612. Drayton, Poly-olb., i. 3. Neptune cutting in, a cantle forth doth take.
1630. R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., 117. A huge arme of the Sea, which cutting in betweene the Land by the West, watreth Cornwall on the right hand, and Wales on the left.
1799. in Owen, Wellesley’s Desp., II. 114. The enemy having cut in between them and Seedasere.
1856. Whyte-Melville, Kate Cov., iii. After much ‘cutting in,’ and shaving of wheels and lashing of horses.
d. To interpose or interrupt abruptly in conversation or the like; to strike in. So cut into for cut in to.
1830. Galt, Lawrie T., V. viii. (1869), 228. When Mr. Van Haarlem had finished his compliments, then Mr. Breugle cut in.
1859. Farrar, Julian Home, vi. ‘I say, Home,’ cut in Kennedy hastily, ‘shall I go?’
1890. R. F. D. Palgrave, O. Cromwell, xiii. 288. The Royalists had only to wait, ready to cut in when the Levellers had done the work.
1890. R. Kipling, Phantom ’Rickshaw, etc. (ed. 3), 74. It will save you cutting into my talk.
e. Card-playing. To join in a game (of whist) by taking the place of a player cutting out q.v.
1760. C. Johnston, Chrysal (1822), I. 277. When the rubber was finished, my mistress was asked to cut in.
1763. Brit. Mag., IV. 542/1. Instead of cutting in to a party of whist, they play the rubbers by rotation.
1870. Hardy & Ware, Mod. Hoyle, 6. Players cutting in take the chairs of players cutting out.
55. Cut off.
a. trans. To cut so as to take off; to detach by cutting (something material).
To cut off a corner: see CORNER sb.1 2 b.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., I. 401. Ȝif þi hond or þi foot sclaundir þee, kitte it of, and caste it fro þee.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 177 b. Though thou cut of my heed.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 119. To haue their noses and eares cut off.
1664. Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 196. Cutting off the dead Wood.
1864. Tennyson, Enoch Arden, 895. This hair is his: she cut it off and gave it.
b. To remove, take away, sever, strike off (something immaterial).
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 98 b. When as I doe cut of so much of myne owne right unto you.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., III. i. 101. Why he that cuts off twenty yeares of life, Cuts off so many yeares of fearing death.
1697. Dryden, Virgil, Ded. (J.). No Vowel can be cut off before another, when we cannot sink the Pronunciation of it.
1792. Coke & Moore, Life J. Wesley, I. (ed. 2), 4. Determined … at a single blow to cut off from the established Church every Minister of honesty and conscience.
c. To bring to an end suddenly or abruptly; to put a stop to; to break off, cut short. To cut off an entail: see ENTAIL sb.2 1.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 17. I had rather cut off all old acquaintance with him.
1611. Bible, Lam. iii. 53. They haue cut off my life in the dungeon.
1635. Stafford, Femall Glory (1860), 51. Obedience calls upon me to cut off … this digression.
1647. W. Browne, trans. Polexander, II. 73. Zabaim, cutting him off, bade him answer succinctly.
1865. Mrs. Riddell, World in Church, xxvii. 303. You wish to cut off the entail.
1878. Bosw. Smith, Carthage, 285. [These things] cut off all hopes of a reconciliation.
d. To put to death (suddenly or prematurely), to bring to an untimely end.
c. 1565. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Cron. Scot. (1728), 16. If the Earl of Douglas … had been cutted off suddenly.
1611. Bible, 1 Sam. xx. 15. When the Lord hath cut off the enemies of Dauid.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 483, ¶ 2. Why such an one was cut off in the flower of his youth.
1888. Burgon, Lives 12 Gd. Men, II. x. 239. His father was cut off at the age of twenty-five.
† e. To shorten, cut short. Obs. rare.
1607. Dekker & Webster, Westw. Hoe, V. Wks. 1873, II. 362. The story of vs both shall bee as good as an olde wiues tale, to cut off our way to London.
f. To intercept, stop the passage or supply of.
1569. Stocker, trans. Diod. Sic., I. iv. 9. Leosthenes seeing that he could not by force winne the towne, straightwaies cut of their victuals.
1780. Coxe, Russ. Disc., 198. The Chinese … found means to cut off several straggling parties of Russians.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. V. v. 495. [They] cut off several vehicles of baggage.
1836–9. Dickens, Sk. Boz, The Streets, iii. At last the company’s man came to cut off the water.
1879. Miss Yonge, Cameos, Ser. IV. iii. 29. War … would cut off their wool from the Flemish looms.
g. To interrupt, stop (communication, passage, etc.); to render impossible by interposing an insurmountable obstacle.
1599. B. Jonson, Ev. Man out of Hum., II. iii. ’Slight, our presence has cut off the conuoy of the iest.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., vii. 19. He cut off his way, and stopt him from passing further.
1776. N. Woodhull, in Sparks, Corr. Amer. Rev. (1853), I. 260. Cutting off the communication between the army in town and country.
1823. J. D. Hunter, Mem. Captivity N. Amer., 52. We attempted to cut off their retreat.
1845. Lever, O’Donoghue (1862), 352. I have sent a strong party … to cut off their advance.
h. To exclude from access, intercourse, view, etc.; to shut out; to debar.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 405. You might alledge … some other impediment which cut you off from keeping company.
1709. Berkeley, Th. Vision, § 77. The wall interposing cuts off all that prospect of sea and land.
1857. W. Collins, Dead Secret, III. i. (1861), 66. The first cottage … which was cut off from other houses by a wall all round it.
1859. Jephson, Brittany, vi. 76. Declaring a man a leper, and cutting him off from social intercourse.
i. To cut off with a shilling: to disinherit by bequeathing a shilling (the bequest being a proof that the disinheritance was designed).
[1710. Addison, Tatler, No. 216, ¶ 15. My eldest Son John … I do disinherit and wholly cut off from any Part of this my Personal Estate, by giving him a single Cockle Shell.]
1834. Hood, Tylney Hall (1840), 268. Vowing … to cut him off with a shilling.
1861. Geo. Eliot, Silas M., iii. I might get you turned out of house and home, and cut off with a shilling.
56. Cut out.
a. trans. To cut so as to take out; to excise, extract, or extirpate by cutting (something material).
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xix. 88. With þat knyf he cuttez out a pece of his flesch.
c. 1483. Caxton, Vocab., 20. He can cutte out the stone.
1662. Evelyn, Chalcogr., 9. With the Burine one cuts the peece all at once out of the plate.
1707. Hearne, Collect., 31 Oct. He found the Leaves … cut out.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 23, ¶ 4. The Pope … ordered his Tongue to be cut out.
1840. R. Liston, Elem. Surg., I. (ed. 2), 215. The affected parts … should be cut out.
b. To remove, excise, omit (a portion of a literary work, etc.).
1736. Fielding, Pasquin, I. I wish you could cut the ghost out, sir.
1779. Sheridan, Critic, II. ii. Sir, the performers have cut it out.
1886. Salmon, Introd. N. T., xviii. 380. The parts which it is proposed to cut out are indissolubly connected with those which are left behind.
1891. Maude, Merciful Divorce, 117. Before I cut you out of my will.
c. To surprise and carry off (a ship) from a harbor, etc., by getting between her and the shore.
1748. Anson’s Voy., II. iii. 141. How impossible it would prove, either to board or to cut out any vessel protected by a force posted on shore within pistol-shot.
1781. Mad. D’Arblay, Lett., Jan. After … cutting a few ships out of Torbay.
1882. Stevenson, Fam. Stud. Men & Bks., 162. He could not swoop into a parlour and, in the naval phrase, ‘cut out’ a human being from that dreary port.
d. U.S. and Australia. To detach or separate (an animal) from the herd.
1885. Pall Mall Gaz., 20 March, 3/2. The two best hands will go in and ‘cut out’ the cattle that bear the brand of their employers.
1887. L. Swinburne, in Scribner’s Mag., II. 508/2. Cut out, to separate an animal from the herd.
† e. To exclude, debar (from); = cut off. Obs.
1729. Butler, Serm., Wks. 1874, II. 47. They in a manner cut themselves out from all advantage of conversation.
f. To get in front of a rival so as to intervene between him and success, or take the first place from him; to out-do, supplant in preference.
A driver or rider who ‘cuts in,’ cuts out some one else.
16[?]. Dryden, in Birch, Milton’s Wks., 1738, I. p. xlvii. This man [Milton] cuts us all out, and the Antients too.
1845. Ld. Houghton, in Life (1891), I. 355. The King of the French has lent all the Crown jewels to the duchess, so she will quite cut our Queen out.
1848. Thackeray, Bk. Snobs (1881), 220. He cut out all the other suitors of the duchess.
g. To deprive, do out of.
1815. Scott, Guy M., ii. The apprizer … cut the family out of another monstrous cantle of their remaining property.
1860. A. L. Windsor, Ethica, iii. 136. Cutting him out of his annual butt of sack.
† h. To divide for distribution. Obs.
1633. D. Rogers, Treat. Sacraments, I. 142. By vertue of Christ cut out and divided to thee.
i. To excavate, carve out; to form by excavation or carving.
1548. [see CUT sb.2 20].
a. 1648. Ld. Herbert, Life (1886), 102. The whole forest … was cut out into long walks every way.
1659. D. Pell, Improv. Sea, 159. To what end the Lord did cut out all those Harbours, Creeks, Chanels, [etc.].
1726. Shelvocke, Voy. round World (1757), 165. [They] saw the word Magee,… and capt. John cut out under it upon a tree.
j. To fashion or shape by cutting (out of a piece).
1551. T. Wilson, Logike (1580), 42 b. Although one have clothe, yet can he not have the use of it, except the Tailer cut it out.
1696. J. F., Merchant’s Ware-ho., 38. How to cut out a Shift out of two Ells of Holland.
1891. E. Peacock, N. Brendon, II. 108. She … could cut out men’s shirts. Ibid., 110. She could cut out much better than the ladies themselves.
k. fig. To form, fashion, shape, to carve out.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., II. iii. 144. To … Be his owne Caruer, and cut out his way, To find out Right with Wrongs. Ibid. (1611), Wint. T., IV. iv. 393. By th’ patterne of mine owne thoughts, I cut out The puritie of his.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. xx. 190. You … expect every … man to be just cut out upon the pattern of … Henry.
1842. S. Lover, Handy Andy, xix. 170. I thought it was manners to cut out my behavor on your own patthern.
l. fig. To plan; to prepare (work to be done).
1619. Relat. betw. Eng. & Germ., Ser. II. (Camden), 68. How they may by … ill affected subjects cutt us out newe worke in Ireland and Scotland.
1754. A. Murphy, Gray’s-Inn Jrnl., No. 98, ¶ 5. The excessive Officiousness of the female World in cutting out Matches.
1795. Burke, Regic. Peace, iv. ad fin. Wks. IX. 126. They will cut out work for one another, and France will cut out work for them all.
1866. Carlyle, Inaug. Addr., 174. The most unhappy of all men is the man … who has got no work cut out for him in the world.
m. To form or fashion by nature (for a particular purpose). (Usually in pa. pple.)
1645. J. Bond, Occasus Occid., 61. It was a Country by scituation … cut out for safety.
1708. Dr. Smith, in Hearne, Collect., 23 Dec. You seeme as it were to bee cut out for those studyes.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1766), I. 401. He was not cut out for a Court.
1874. Burnand, My Time, xiv. 115. She was cut out for a clergyman’s wife.
† (b.) To fix upon (for a purpose). Obs.
1667. Pepys, Diary, 2 Sept. They told me both that they had long cut me out for Secretary to the Duke of York.
† n. To cut it out: to flaunt, make a show, cut a dash. Obs.
1619. J. Dyke, Counter poyson (1620), 39. They must flaunt, and cut it out in apparell, furniture [etc.].
1679. G. R., trans. Boyatuau’s Theat. World, II. 149. Cutting it out in their Silks, Perfumes, and Embroideries.
o. intr. To admit of being cut out into shape.
1829. Bone Manure, Rep. Doncaster Comm., 31. The whole [manure] … will cut out like a jelly.
1850. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XI. I. 139. Hay never cuts out so well as when it has been stacked from the field as fast as made.
p. intr. (orig. passive) Card-playing. To come out of or be excluded from a game (of whist) by cutting an unfavorable card; done in order to allow another player or players to cut in.
1771. T. Hull, Sir W. Harrington (1797), II. 216. My Lord and I, happening to be cut out at the same time at whist.
1780. Mad. D’Arblay, Diary, June. Mrs. G—, having cut out at cards … approached us.
1810. Sporting Mag., XXXVI. 122. With the same pleasure that a gentleman who has cut out returns to a rubber.
1870. Hardy & Ware, Mod. Hoyle, 5. (Whist) The fifth and sixth players … have the right to cut into the game when a rubber has been completed by the first four players. This operation is effected by two players cutting out…. Cutting out.… The players cut, and the highest go out, whether two or one.
57. Cut over.
a. intr. To run or pass across: see 17.
1551–70. [see 17].
b. trans. To cut down the trees or bushes growing over (an area); to pass over cutting.
1783. Trans. Soc. Encourag. Arts, I. 170. By the time the whole four acres had been cut over.
1889. W. Schlich, Man. Forestry, I. 10. The trees consist of stool shoots or root suckers, which are cut over periodically.
c. To strike a person sharply over some part of the body with a weapon or missile; mostly passive: e.g., to be struck over the legs at hockey, to be struck or hurt by the ball at cricket; to be wounded.
1874. Dasent, Half a Life, I. 122. [At hockey] Now mind you look out … or you’ll be cut over.
1888. R. Kipling, Wee Willie Winkie, 66. If he lives, he writes Home that he has been ‘potted,’ ‘sniped,’ ‘chipped,’ or ‘cut over.’
1893. Cricket Field, 29 July, 304. He was cut over twice in rapid succession owing to inequalities in the ground, and inaccuracies in the bowlers.
d. To cut down, throw over with a slashing blow.
1884. J. Colborne, Hicks Pasha, 153. The officer cut over the first with a blow on his neck.
58. Cut under. To cut out by underselling. colloq.
1874. Mayhew, London Char., 469 (Farmer). The spirit of competition on the part of the masters—the same universal desire to cut under.
59. Cut up.
a. trans. To cut so as to take or get up; to root up by cutting; also fig.
1602. Marston, Ant. & Mel., IV. Wks. 1856, I. 45. Rootes, rootes? alas, they are seeded, new cut up.
1611. Bible, Job xxx. 4. Who cut vp mallowes by the bushes.
1690. Locke, Govt., I. xi. This doctrine cuts up all government by the roots.
1767. Blackstone, Comm., II. 15. The law has therefore wisely cut up the root of dissension.
1839. Standard, 28 Aug., 2/6. The gum trade … is nearly cut up by the roots.
b. To cut in pieces; to divide into parts by cutting, to carve; to cut open.
1580. Baret, Alv., C 1876. Cut vp: or winne these partriges.
1611. Middleton & Dekker, Roaring Girl, III. ii. No wild fowl to cut up but mine!
1847. Marryat, Childr. N. Forest, iii. Now I’ll cut up the onions, for they will make your eyes water.
1885. Illust. Lond. News, 10 Oct., 362. Every lady and gentleman was instructed how to cut up a turkey, capon or bustard.
c. fig. To divide into parts, destroy the continuity of; to destroy or mar irretrievably.
1813. Leigh Hunt, in Examiner, 18 April, 242/2. His night’s sleep had been cut up.
1817. Faraday, in B. Jones, Life & Lett. (1870), I. 248. My time is just now so closely cut up.
1864. Burton, Scot Abr., I. iii. 123. [trans. Froissart] They will very soon cut up and destroy all we have in this country.
d. To overcome with great slaughter, ‘cut to pieces’: see 7 c.
1803. Wellington, in Owen, Wellesley’s Desp., 787. A parcel of stragglers cut up our wounded.
1821. V. Blacker, Mahratta War, I. ix. 155, note. The body of cavalry … employed to cut-up the column of infantry.
e. To cut, hack or gash the surface of irregularly; to damage by or as by cutting.
a. 1591. H. Smith, Serm. (1622), 301. Like the plough, which cutteth up the ground that it may receive the seed.
1765. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, VIII. xx. the roads, which were terribly cut up.
1827. Hone, Every-day Bk., II. 104. The ice, injured by a partial thaw in some places, was much cut up.
1859. All Year Round, No. 13. 306. The ground was … much cut up between wickets.
† f. To whip up, to incite with the whip. Obs.
1756–66. Amory, Buncle (1770), II. 24. My horse was as good … and I cut him up, and pricked him over the turf.
g. fig. To censure, criticize or review with destructive severity.
1760. Goldsm., Cit. W., xx. The book-answerers … when they have cut up some respectable name.
1782. Miss Burney, Cecilia, VII. v. ‘May be … it’s out of bashfulness: perhaps he thinks we shall cut him up.’
1784. R. Bage, Barham Downs, II. 228. The conversation fell naturally … upon Miss Whittaker’s affair, and Lord Winterbottom was cut up … without mercy.
1860. Sala, Lady Chesterf., 55. [The reviewer] savagely cutting up people’s books or pictures.
h. To wound deeply the feelings of; to distress greatly. (Usually in pass.)
1844. Dickens, Christmas Carol, i. Scrooge was not so dreadfully cut up by the sad event.
1876. F. E. Trollope, Charming Fellow, II. ix. 127. I believe he was dreadfully cut up at my going away.
† i. To cut up short: to cut short, interrupt.
1607. Hieron, Wks., I. 197. Shee, beeing … something a shrewd-tongued woman, by and by cut Him vp short.
j. To share (plunder), to divide. slang.
[1779. R. Cumberland, Wheel of Fort., IV. iii. (Farmer). A gentleman who trusts to servants in his absence is sure to be cut up,]
1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., XL. 505/2 (Farmer). We had between sixty and seventy quid to cut up.
k. intr. To admit of being cut up or divided, to turn out as to amount of fortune; properly a butcher’s phrase; said of a person after his death. slang.
1782. Miss Burney, Cecilia, V. ix. Pray, how does he cut up? What has he left behind him?
1796. Burke, Lett. Noble Ld., 68–9 (T.). Their only question … of their legislative butchers, How he cuts up?
1792. Gibbon, Misc. Wks., I. (1814), 366. Geneva would cut up as fat as most towns in Europe.
1831. Disraeli, Yng. Duke, IV. vii. ‘You think him rich?’ ‘Oh, he will cut up very large,’ said the Baron.
1848. Thackeray, Bk. Snobs, vii. The old banker died in course of time, and … ‘cut up’ prodigiously well.
l. To cut up rough, rusty, savage, etc.: (intr.) to become angry or quarrelsome. colloq.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., xlii. I may say I von’t pay, and cut up rough.
1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, l. Hang it! you cut up quite savage.
1873. Black, Pr. Thule, vii. 101. ‘Now, Ingram … don’t cut up rough about it.’
m. To cut a dash; show off; to behave (in a specified way); to behave badly or indecorously. U.S. colloq.
1787. Generous Attachment, I. 89. A couple of plough boys … would do, when properly dressed, and eat it up … as well as the best.
1859. H. W. Beecher, Notes fr. Plymouth Pulpit. I believe I never did cut up so bad any one week as I did that week.
1861. Lowell, Biglow P., Ser. II. i. It ain’t no use to argerfy ner try to cut up frisky.
1888. Howells, Likely Story, in Harper’s Mag., Dec., 26. If you dare to touch them, I’ll ring for Jane, and then she’ll see you cutting up.
n. Sporting slang. To ‘behave’ (badly, etc.) in a race or competition.
1883. Scotsman, 11 July, 18/1. He cut up badly and can have no chance for the Cup.
1883. Illustr. Lond. News, 12 May, 463/2 (Farmer). Export again cut up wretchedly in the Burwell Stakes.
X. Phraseological expressions and combinations containing the verb-stem.
60. Cut-and-come-again. The act or faculty of cutting (from a joint of meat, etc.) and of returning to help oneself as often as one likes; hence, unfailing supply, abundance; also fig. Also attrib.
1738. Swift, Pol. Conversat., iii. 121. I vow, ’tis a noble sirloyn. Ay; here’s cut and come again, Miss.
1827. S. P., in Hone, Every-day Bk., II. 54. It [a ham] is a cut-and-come-again dish, ready at hand at all times.
1841. Thackeray, Gt. Hoggarty Diamond, iv. Always happy to see a friend in our plain way,—pale sherry, old port, and cut and come again.
1861. Sala, Dutch Pict., xv. 241. You cut your steak off hot from the living animal, on the cut and come again principle.
61. Cut-and-cover. Engineering. A method of constructing a tunnel by making a cutting in which the brickwork lining is built and then covered in: employed with advantage when the depth below the surface is comparatively small.
1892. Daily News, 2 Nov., 2/8. Certain portions of this work … could be much better and more cheaply executed by the method of cut-and-cover. Ibid., 22 Nov., 3/1. Excavating what is technically called the ‘cut and cover’ portion of the work—the portion of the tunnel, that is to say, between the open approach and the river. This is cut out, arched over, and covered in again.
62. Cut and thrust: see CUT sb.2 2 c.
63. Comb. a. with object noun, = ‘that which or he who cuts…’ as cut-air, -beard, -caper, -girdle, -nose; CUTPURSE, CUTTHROAT, CUTWATER; b. = ‘…used to cut, cutting,’ as cut-whip, CUT-GRASS.
a. 1661. Holyday, Juvenal, 266. A Cut-purse … is by Plautus called … a Cut-girdle.
1665. Hooke, Microgr., 174. The biggest stem of all the wing, and may be properly enough call’d the cut-air.
a. 1678. Marvell, Poems, Brit. & Raleigh. And Commons’ votes shall cut-nose guards disband.
1693. Shadwell, Volunteers, I. ii. Her sense and breeding is fit for none but a cutcaper.
1767. S. Paterson, Another Trav., I. 39. Not one … greasy, lying, tale-bearing … newsmonger cut-beard is to be found.
1887. Pall Mall Gaz., 5 Aug., 3/1. A light, thin, supple, whalebone cut whip.
