A knife. Fr. Couteau. The N.E.D. furnishes English examples, 1678, 1685. Nearly obs. now in the U.S.
1771. Advt. of a Public Vendue of “Pen-knives, Razors, Cuttoes, Jack Knives, &c.”—Boston Evening Post, March 4.
1772. Joshua Gardner sells “Thimbles, Cuttoe knives, &c.”—Mass. Spy, April 9.
1777. Lost, or Lent…. A neat case of pistols, and Cutteau du Chasse.—Advt., Maryland Journal, Nov. 25.
1778. He had with him … two razors and one cutteau-knife, all new.—Runaway advt., id., Oct. 20.
1784. James Hendricks & Co. sell “pen, pocket, pruning, and cutteau knives.”—Virginia Journal, July 25.
1851. S. Judd, ‘Margaret.’ (N.E.D.)
1854. I forthwith sprang to my feet—drew forth my cutto—circulated the same with much vivacity among their several and respective corporeal systems, and every time I circulated the same I felt their iron grasp relax.—J. G. Baldwin, ‘Flush Times,’ p. 110.
