Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

cutlass

/ˈkʌtləs/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.59 in modern English

Syllables: cut-lass
IPA: /ˈkʌtləs/

9

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A short sword with a curved blade, and a convex edge; once used by sailors when boarding an enemy ship.

noun

A similarly shaped tool; a machete.

verb

To cut back (vegetation) with a cutlass.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"She could feel Tern’s stare fixed right between her shoulder blades, and knew he was aching to plunge his cutlass there."
"In vain the captain threatened to throw him overboard; suspended a cutlass over his naked wrists; Queequeg was the son of a King, and Queequeg budged not."

Etymology

From Middle French coutelas, from Old French coutel (“knife”) + -as (augmentative suffix).

Usage

Transitive verb

Subject

Wiktionary places this term in Law.

Inflected Forms

cutlasses (plural) cutlasses (present, singular) cutlassing (participle, present) cutlassed (participle, past) cutlassed (past)

Derived Forms

cutlassfish

Phrases

cutlass bearing

Synonyms

cuttoe hanger cutlas

Questions

How do you pronounce cutlass?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈkʌtləs/.
What does cutlass mean?: A short sword with a curved blade, and a convex edge; once used by sailors when boarding an enemy ship.
Where does cutlass come from?: From Middle French coutelas, from Old French coutel (“knife”) + -as (augmentative suffix).

How to pronounce cutlass

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “cutlass”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈkʌtləs/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “cutlass”.
Repeat and practice — Say “cutlass” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.