Cutthroats

/ˈkʌtθroʊts/ noun

Definition

Ruthless, violent criminals who will harm people without hesitation, or the plural of cutthroat; also a species of trout fish.

Etymology

Compound of 'cut' and 'throat,' referring to assassins or murderers who literally killed by slitting throats; the term dates back to the 1600s for dangerous criminals and was later applied to the fish species due to coloring marks.

Kelly Says

The cutthroat trout (a North American species) gets its name from a distinctive red slash mark under its jaw that looks like a cut throat—a perfect example of how picturesque animal names sometimes come from violent human history.

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