adj

cutty

KUH-tee

Cutty (adj) means Short or cut off; used especially in Scottish and dialect English. Example: “She wore a cutty sark, a short nightdress or shift.”

adj

Short or cut off; used especially in Scottish and dialect English.

"She wore a cutty sark, a short nightdress or shift."

noun

A short tobacco pipe.

"The old sailor puffed away on his cutty pipe."

How to use cutty

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA dialect word (mostly Scots) for something short — a short pipe, a short garment, or a short person.

When to use it

Largely archaic and regional; most familiar today from the phrase "cutty sark," also the name of a famous ship and a whisky brand.

Word forms

more cutty comparative, cutties plural, most cutty superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She wore a _____ sark, a short nightdress or shift.

Etymology

From cut plus the adjectival suffix -y, meaning literally "cut short."

Rhymes for cutty

nutty putty slutty

See all rhymes for cutty →

Frequently asked questions

What does “cutty” mean?

The word “cutty” means short or cut off; used especially in Scottish and dialect English. In plain terms, a dialect word (mostly Scots) for something short — a short pipe, a short garment, or a short person.

How do you pronounce “cutty”?

“Cutty” is pronounced KUH-tee (/ˈkʌti/ in IPA).

How do you use “cutty” in a sentence?

Here is “cutty” used in a sentence: “She wore a cutty sark, a short nightdress or shift.”

What part of speech is “cutty”?

Depending on how it is used, “cutty” can be an adjective and a noun.

How many meanings does “cutty” have?

“Cutty” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: short or cut off; used especially in Scottish and dialect English.