cull

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1 1.2.1 Verb 1.2.1.1 Quotations 1.2.1.2 Translations 1.2.2 Noun 1.3 Etymology 2 1.3.1 Noun 1.3.1.1 Synonyms

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA: /kʌl/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

  Rhymes: -ʌl

[edit] Etymology 1

From Old French cuillir (“‘collect, gather, select’”) from Latin colligo (“‘gather together’”).

[edit] Verb

to cull (third-person singular simple present culls, present participle culling, simple past and past participle culled)

1. To pick someone or something.
2. To take someone or something (from somewhere).
3. To select animals from a group and then kill them in order to reduce the numbers of the group in a controlled manner.
4. (nonstandard, euphemism) To kill (animals etc).

[edit] Quotations

• 1984, cover star: JOE DALLESANDRO culled from Andy Warhol's FLESH — anonymous; sleeve notes from The Smiths' eponymous album

[edit] Translations

[edit] Noun

cull (plural culls)

1. A selection.
2. An organised killing of selected animals.

[edit] Etymology 2

Perhaps an abbreviation of cully.

[edit] Noun

cull (plural culls)

1. (slang, dialectal) A fool, gullible person; a dupe.
   • 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society 1973, p. 307:

     Follow but my counsel, and I will show you a way to empty the pocket of a queer cull without any danger of the nubbing cheat.

[edit] Synonyms

• See also Wikisaurus:dupe