Plural of cutwater; the forward parts of a ship's prow that cut through water, or wedge-shaped structures that reduce water resistance.
From 'cut' (Old English 'cutian') + 'water' (Old English 'wæter'). Compound formed in Middle English to describe how the ship's bow cuts through waves.
Naval architects discovered that a sharp cutwater reduces drag by up to 15%, which is why modern ships still use this ancient design principle—the bow literally slices rather than pushes.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.