A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1535-1685
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Cut-throt, n. Also: -thrott, -throit, -throat; cuthrot(e, cuttrott. [e.m.E. cut-throte (1567), -throat, f. Cut v. 1.]
1. A cutter of throats; a murderer. 1535 Stewart 17586.
Ane cruell cutthrot of ane cancart clan 1535 Ib. 33778.
Thir cankerit cut-throttis of crudelitie 1554 Duncan Laideus Test. 173.
Ane rychteous judge … quha dois decre That thai and all such cutthroittis suld imbrace His seueir censure for thair villanie 1572 Satirical Poems xxxviii. 57.
The kyndnes of cutthrottis we cure not to want 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 267.
Captane Johne, who is apoyntit be the king to be the commone cutthroat [v.r. cuthrote] 1596 Dalr. II. 22/24; etc.
He thairfor appoynted certan cutthrots to wayt thame as fra the banquet thay return
2. A species of light artillery or fire-arm. 1538 Treasurer's Accounts VIII. 159.
For bullettis to the cuthrottis 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 114.
Pleis your grace caus len tuay cutthrottis vyth certane pulder and bullettis to this berar 1544 Ayr Common Good Acc. MS.
For vpbringing of the cuttrottis fra the hevin werk, iiij d. 1557–8 Edinb. Old Acc. 250.
Coft … twa cutthrotts with thair chalmeris, price thairof, xviij li. 1557–8 Ib.
Ane small cutthrot with twa chalmers, the price v li. 1557–8 Ib.
For bringing up of ij of thir cutthrotts be four men with styng and lyng furth of Leith 1558 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 21.
Iames Adamsoun, thesaurer, to by … vj cutthrottis with thair chalmeris and calmes 1566 Inv. Wardrobe 169.
Tua cairtis for cutthrottis 1566 Ib.
Sex pair of brasin calmes … serving for battertis, moyanis, falconis and cutthrottis 1567 Satirical Poems iii. 31.
Dartis about him swyftlie could he fling, … Cunning of crosbow, cutthrot, and culuering 1578 Inv. Wardrobe 252.
Sevin handslew cutthrottis of forgit yron wanting all thair chalmeris 1605 Black Bk. Taymouth 342.
Iron bullatis for cutthrotis 1640 Thanes of Cawdor 300.
£80 for the pryce of tua cutthroatis with the stocs and four chalmbersattrib. 1640 Black Bk. Taymouth 348.
Thrie cutthrott pistollis of coppir
3. A dark lantern. 1668 Edinburgh Testaments LXXIII. 203 b.
Ane tin oyll lamp, ane brasen lantrone, ane bouet cutthrot 1685 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries LVIII. 356.
A cutthroat in the little office house
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"Cut-throt n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/cut_throt>
