cut-throat
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A butcher, a cattle-slaughterer; a ruffian.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “cut-throat” mean?
A butcher, a cattle-slaughterer; a ruffian.
Is “cut-throat” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.