late 13c., possibly Scandinavian, from North Germanic *kut- (cognates: Swedish dialectal kuta "to cut," kuta "knife," Old Norse kuti "knife"), or from Old French couteau "knife." Replaced Old English ceorfan (see carve, v.), sniþan, and scieran (see shear). Meaning "to be absent without excuse" is British university slang from 1794. To cut a pack of cards is from 1590s. Related: Cutting.

1520s, "gash, incision," from cut, v.; meaning "piece cut off" is from 1590s; sense of "a wounding sarcasm" is from 1560s.