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or dead cut is a conspicuous non-acknowledgment of an acquaintance.

1821. P. Egan, Tom and Jerry [ed. 1890], p. 55. His acquaintances were numerous, but they seldom lasted longer than a few days, when he made no hesitation in giving them the cut-direct.

1836. Marryat, Japhet, ch. lii. He was a noted duellist, had killed his three or four men, and a cut direct from any person was, with him, sufficient ground for sending a friend.

3. (theatrical).—Mutilation of the 'book' of a play, opera, etc.

1779. Sheridan, The Critic, Act ii., Sc. 2. Puff (speaking of the mutilation of his play): Hey, what the plague!—what a cut is here!

1883. Saturday Review, 21 April, p. 501, col. 2. Mr. Mackenzie had not only modified the energy of the orchestra, but had shortened the opera by some judicious cuts.

4. (general).—A snub or set-down. Cf., sense 2.

1876. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 143. One of the greatest cuts I ever knew was once when a man was speaking of Chris. Newman and saying what a good sort he was, upon which the other said, 'What do you mean by saying that? Why, d— me, sir, he never called for a bottle of champagne in his life!'

Adj. (old).—Tipsy; on the cut = on the spree. For synonyms, see Screwed.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Cut (a.) also an epithet applied to one who is drunk, as, He is deeply cut, that is, he is so drunk, that he can neither stand nor go.

1830. Pierce Egan, Finish to Life in London, p. 214. Terry was terribly cut.

1848. Thackeray, Book of Snobs, ch. xli. I was so cut last night, old boy! Hopkins says to Tomkins (with amiable confidence).

1859. Punch, vol. XXXVII., p. 22. Our friend prone to vices you never may see, Though he goes on the Loose, or the cut, or the Spree.

Verb (old).—1. To talk.

1567. Harman, Caveat 1814), p. 66 To cutte, to say. To cut benle, to speake gentle. To cut bene whydds, to speake or give good words. To cutte quyer whyddes, to geue euil words or evil language.

1622. Head and Kirkman, The English Rogue. This Doxie Dell can cut bien whids, and drill well for a win.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, ch. xxviii. Meg's true-bred; she's the last in the gang that will start—but she has some queer ways, and often cuts queer words.

1834. W. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood p. 230 (ed. 1864). Here I am, pal Peter; and here are my two chums, Rust and Wilder. Cut the whid.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. ix. The infatuated young man went on cutting his jokes at the Admiral's expense, fancying that all the world was laughing with him.

2. (colloquial).—To disown, ignore, or avoid associating with, a person. Sometimes to cut dead.—See Cut, subs., sense 2. An article in the Monthly Magazine for 1798 cites cut as a current peculiarity of expression, and says that some had tried to change it into 'spear,' but had failed.

1634. S. Rowley, Noble Souldier, Act ii., Sc. 1. Why shud a Souldier, being the world's right arme, Be cut thus by the left, a Courtier?

1794. Gent. Mag., p. 1085. I no sooner learned he was at the 'Black Bull' than I determined to cut the old codger completely.

1811. Miss Austen, Sense and Sensibility, ch. xliv. That he had cut me ever since my marriage, I had seen without surprise or resentment.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. xli. 'You are angry with her because she cut you,' growls Clive. 'You know you said she cut you, or forgot you; and your vanity's wounded.'

1864. G. A. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone, ch. viii. It was only a slight satisfaction to hear that she has utterly lost