the.com/cut

means To divide, wound, or separate something with a sharp edge or force — and by extension, to trim, remove, reduce, or shift abruptly (as in 'cut a deal,' 'cut class,' 'cut to the chase').

from Murky, honestly. 'Cut' shows up in Middle English (as 'kitten' or 'kytten') without a clear ancestor in Old English, which is odd for such a basic word. Etymologists point to possible Scandinavian or Celtic relatives — something like Old Norse or Old Swedish words for cutting or notching — but no one can nail the lineage with confidence. It's a word that cuts cleanly through sentences while its own backstory stays frustratingly uncut.