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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).—I. 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.

2. (common).—To come up; turn up; become; show up.

3. (thieves').—To divide plunder; to share; to 'nap the regulars.' Cf., Cut up fat.

1779. R. Cumberland, Wheel of Fortune, Act iv., Sc. 3. Sir D. D. A gentleman, who trusts to servants in his absence, is sure to be cut up. Emily, Cut up! what's that. Sir D. D. Why, 'tis a common phrase.

1870. J. K., Good Words, April. 'The Nailmakers' Lamentation.' Now, what's twelve shillings to cut up, To pay so many things.

1879. J.W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., XL., 505. We had between sixty and seventy quid to cut up (share).

1880. G. R. Sims, How the Poor Live. These were mostly 'ramps,' or swindles, got up to obtain the gate-money, and generally interrupted by circumstances arranged beforehand by those who were going to cut up the plunder.

4. (common).—To behave.

1856. T. Hughes, Tom Brown's School-days, pt. I., ch. v. You see, a great deal depends on how a fellow cuts up, at first. If he's got nothing odd about him, and answers straightforward, and holds his head up, he gets on.