to cut a feather
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A ship going fast is said to cut a feather, in allusion to the ripple which she throws off from her bows. Metaphorically, "to cut a dash.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “to cut a feather” mean?
A ship going fast is said to cut a feather, in allusion to the ripple which she throws off from her bows. Metaphorically, "to cut a dash.
Is “to cut a feather” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.