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cuss. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
cuss, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
cuss in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
cuss you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
American English dialect pronunciation of curse. For the phonetic development compare American ass (“buttocks”) for other English arse.
Verb
cuss (third-person singular simple present cusses, present participle cussing, simple past and past participle cussed)
- (chiefly US, colloquial) To use cursing, to use bad language, to speak profanely.
1899, H. G. Wells, Mr. Brisher's Treasure:I went over the fence like a shot, and ran like one o'clock for the trap, cussing and swearing as I went.
Derived terms
Translations
Noun
cuss (plural cusses)
- (chiefly US, colloquial) A curse.
- (chiefly US, colloquial) A curse word.
Derived terms
Etymology 2
Clipping of customer.
Noun
cuss (plural cusses)
- (dated, chiefly US, colloquial) A fellow, person.
1922, A. M. Chisholm, A Thousand a Plate:Seemingly here was an intruder who was violating custom. Moreover, the partners had come to look upon this exceedingly rich district as their exclusive property. And so their indignation was extreme.
"The low-down, ornery cuss!" said Dobbs. "The nerve of him, crowdin' in on us, just as if there wasn't lots of other places for him to go!"
1936, F.J. Thwaites, chapter I, in The Redemption, Sydney: H. John Edwards, page 6:"Proud young cuss, aren't you?" "Apparently - I don't know." "Or is it you are just pig-headed?"
2012, Robin Oakley, Britain and Ireland's Top 100 Racehorses of All Time:Dawn Run's owner, Charmian Hill, who had insisted on trainer Paddy Mullins 'jocking off' his son Tony and putting up Jonjo O'Neill to ride her in the Gold Cup, was an awkward cuss too.
Anagrams