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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CUTTER, n.² A bottle holding half a mutchkin of whisky and gen. shaped to be carried in the hip-pocket (Cai.⁷ 1941, Mry.² c.1890; Bnff.², Abd.⁹, Ags.¹⁷, Fif.¹⁰ 1941). [′kʌtər]Mry. [1865] W. H. L. Tester Poems (1886) 22:
In her left breest the “cutter” was carefully stow'd.Bnff. 1922 J. Robertson in Bnffsh. Jnl. (21 Feb.) 2:
Certain visitors were blamed for carrying a “cutter,” the contents of which were pure Milton [whisky from the Milton-Duff distillery].Abd. 1928 J. Baxter A' Ae 'Oo' 24:
An' gin ye're wise ye'll no' say “Na,” Fan Doo han's roon the cutter.Ags. 1884 Arbroath Guide (19 April) 4/2:
A' the crockery ware ye can find in the room Is a fitless dram glass and a “cutter” half toom.

Phrases: 1. to fraught (freight) the cutter, to fill up a glass or bottle; 2. to (ti) rin (run) the cutter (1) “to bring away liquor from a public-house or brewery unobserved by outsiders (as e.g. by hiding it under an apron)” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; also Mry.¹1928; Bnff.², Abd.² 1941; Ags.⁹ 1927, run — —; Ags.², Fif.¹⁰, Fif.¹³ (for s.Per., Arg., Clc.) 1941). Fig. uses taken from smuggling; (2) to act as a bookie's runner.1. Ags. 1881 Brechin Advertiser (27 Dec.) 3/5:
Look sharp, auld wife, an fraught the cutter.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xxxiv.:
Jeames . . . freights the cutter oot o' the “North Port” greybeard, an' slips it into his oxter pouch.2. (1) Edb. 1938 Fred Urquhart Time Will Knit (1988) 69:
"They went to school together. Danny used to run the cutter for his mother and whiles Tom went with him." Arg. 1992:
In fact, Ah ran the cutter masel for a certain auld buddy.(2) Gsw. 1985 Michael Munro The Patter 18:
cutter To run the cutter is to act as a bookie's runner or simply to take another person's line to the betting-shop for him.