cutty

A man smokes a cutty pipe while reading a book.

Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Short or cut short: "cutty" describes something that is short, shortened, or truncated in length.

2. Noun:

   • A short pipe: "cutty" can refer to a short tobacco pipe or a short clay pipe.
   • A short person or thing: Informally, "cutty" may denote a person or object that is notably short in stature or length.
   • A disreputable woman: In colloquial or dialectal use, "cutty" can refer to a woman considered immoral or worthless.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • He smoked from a cutty pipe. (A short tobacco pipe.)
  • The cutty dress was too short for the occasion. (A dress that is cut short in length.)

• Noun:

  • He filled his cutty with tobacco and lit it. (A short pipe used for smoking.)
  • In the old tale, the cutty was a sly and deceitful woman. (A disreputable woman in folklore.)

Advanced Usage

• "Cutty stool": In historical Scottish church context, a "cutty stool" was a low stool used as a seat of repentance for sinners.

  • She was made to sit on the cutty stool as punishment. (A low stool for public penance.)

• "Cutty sark": A short shirt or chemise, often used in Scottish literature (e.g., in Robert Burns's poem "Tam o' Shanter").

  • The witch wore a cutty sark in the famous poem. (A short, flimsy garment.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cutty (adj): directly meaning "short" or "cut short."
• Cutty (n): a short pipe or a short person/thing.

Synonyms

• Short: lacking in length or duration.
• Truncated: cut short or abbreviated.
• Stubby: short and thick, often used for pipes.
• Immoral woman: hussy, trollop (for the pejorative sense).

Related Idioms

• "Cutty pipe": a specific type of short clay pipe associated with Scottish and Irish smoking traditions.

  • He preferred a cutty pipe for its portability. (A short, convenient pipe.)

• "Cutty stool": a historical term for a stool of repentance in Scottish churches.

  • The cutty stool was a symbol of public shame. (A low seat for penitents.)