Cutting, verbal subs. and ppl. adj. (trade).—1. The process of
underselling; synonymous with competition of the keenest kind.—See Cut,
verb, sense 4.
1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 372.
There is great competition in the trade, and much of what is called
cutting, or one tradesman underselling another. Ibid., vol. II., p.
232. Those employers who seek to reduce the prices of a trade are
known technologically as cutting employers, in contradistinction to
the standard employers, or those who pay their workpeople, and sell
their goods at the ordinary rates.
1863. Once a Week, vol. VIII., p. 552. At first sight it would seem
that the poor men got a better article for less money than the rich
and well-to-do classes; but a little inquiry into the method by
which these cutting bakers ‘make things pleasant’ soon dissipate
this seeming anomaly.
1863. Once a Week, vol. VIII., p. 179. If she is accustomed to
frequent cutting shops, where the stock is periodically thrown into
a state of convulsions in its efforts to sell itself off, of course
she expects to be done.
2. (colloquial).—Disowning or ignoring a person.—See Cut, verb, sense
2.
1854. Aytoun and Martin, Bon Gaultier Ballads. ‘The Doleful Lay of
the Honble. I. O. Uwins.’ Uselessly down Bond Street strutting, Did
he greet his friends of yore: Such a universal cutting, Never man
received before.
Cuttle or Cuttle Bung, subs. (old).—A knife used by cut-purses. [From
Latin cultellus, a knife; unde, a cutlass.] For synonyms, see Chive.
1592. Greene, Second Part Conny-catching, in wks., vol. X., p. 3.
And feeling if his cuttle boung were glibbe and of a good edge,
went to this meale-man to enter combate hand to hand with his
purse.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe (Harl. Misc., VI., 172). [He] unsheathed
his cuttle-bong, and from the nape of the necke to the taile
dismembered him.
1608. Dekker, Belman of London, in wks. (Grosart) III., 154. He
that cuts the purse is called the Nip.... The knife is called a
cuttle-bung.
1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 37 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). A
Roome Cuttle: a sword. A Cuttle bung: a knife to cut a purse.
Cutty-Eyed, adj. (thieves’).—Suspicious looking; leering.
Cut Up, verbal phr. (colloquial).—1. To run down; to mortify.
1759. Goldsmith, The Bee, No. 5, p. 390 (Globe ed.). The pack of
critics, who probably have no other occupation but that of cutting
up everything new.
1819. Shelley, Letter to Ollier, in Letters (Camelot), p. 309. I
read the article.... I am glad, however, to see the Quarterly cut
up, and that by one of their own people.
1874. Mortimer Collins, Frances, ch. xvii. The slashing writers who
delight to cut up a book, especially if the author is a friend or a
rival.