/kut"leuhs/ , n.
a short, heavy, slightly curved sword with a single cutting edge, formerly used by sailors.
Also, cutlas .
[ 1585-95; earlier coutelace coutelas, equiv. to coutel knife (F couteau ) ( cultellus; see CULTELLUS) + -as aug. suffix; c. It coltellaccio big knife; cf. CURTALAX ]