/kut"owt'/ , n.
1. something cut out from something else, as a pattern or figure cut out or intended to be cut out of paper, cardboard, or other material.
2. a valve in the exhaust pipe of an internal-combustion engine, which when open permits the engine to exhaust directly into the air ahead of the muffler.
3. an act or instance of cutting out.
4. Slang. a trusted intermediary between two espionage agents or agencies.
5. Elect. a device for the manual or automatic interruption of electric current.
[ 1790-1800; n. use of v. phrase cut out ]