The Monthly Magazine, Or, British Register for 1798 included an explanation by a reader of how the cut was carried out in his college days in a lengthy letter to the editor, signed by the pseudonym Ansonius. In his rambling letter, Ansonius noted that when he was at college, … if a man passed an old acquaintance wittingly, without recognizing him, he was said— ‘To cut him.’ Ansonius then went on to explain the performance of the cut and noted that for a time the term to spear was used instead of to cut. However, that term did not remain long in use, and this act was generally known as the cut ever after.

The dasymeter consists of a two-armed lever or balance beam, on one arm of which is a hermetically sealed glass sphere of 3 litres capacity, while the other arm carries a balancing weight. The higher the percentage of carbonic anhydride contained in the gas to be examined, the higher will be its specific gravity, and consequently the greater its weight.

And Lancelot answer'd nothing , but he went , And at the inrunning of a little brook

She finished fifty-sixth in the race.