cutlass

or cut·las

[ kuht-luhs ]

noun

1. a short, heavy, slightly curved sword with a single cutting edge, formerly used by sailors.

cutlass

/ ˈkʌtləs /

noun

1. a curved, one-edged sword formerly used by sailors

Word History and Origins

Origin of cutlass¹

1585–95; earlier coutelace < Middle French coutelas, equivalent to coutel knife ( French couteau ) (< Latin cultellus; cultellus ) + -as augmentative suffix; cognate with Italian coltellaccio big knife; curtalax

Word History and Origins

Origin of cutlass¹

C16: from French coutelas, from coutel knife, from Latin cultellus a small knife, from culter knife; see coulter

Example Sentences

The sword is a piece of wood shaped somewhat like a cutlass.

From Project Gutenberg

The others were lying flat in the shadow on the bulwarks, each with cutlass tightly clutched in hand.

From Project Gutenberg

Each man lay in his clothes with a weapon of death in his hand; Robinson with two, a revolver and a cutlass ground like a razor.

From Project Gutenberg

At one and the same moment the pistol exploded and the cutlass struck it and knocked it against the other side of the tent.

From Project Gutenberg

Now those two fingers are the ones you chopped off with your cutlass the night when the tent was attacked.

From Project Gutenberg

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