Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CUTTING, vbl.n. In bagpipe music, the playing of a short sequence of grace notes (s.v. grace note) or quick notes on the chanter.Sc. 1763 J. Macdonald Compleat Theory of Bagpipe (1803):
All the Shakes, Introductions, Graces, and Cuttings which are peculiar to this Instrument. . . . The touching of these little Introductory Notes must be so quick and light that they cannot be said to be sounded, but only beat upon, as they are properly the Cutting or Division of the Notes.Sc. 1881 David Glen Highland Bagpipe Tutor V:
In the following table, in addition to the Accent note, there are other two small notes in each bar; these are the Cuttings or Divisions of the notes; without which two or more notes of the same pitch could not be produced. Sc. 1960 A. Baines Bagpipes 22:
This is called gracing, or, though mainly for grace notes dividing two notes of the same pitch, cutting.
