Plural of cutlass; short, curved swords with broad blades, traditionally used by sailors and soldiers.
From French 'coutelas' through multiple European languages, rooted in Latin 'cultellus' (small knife). The standardized spelling 'cutlass' with this plural form became dominant by the 18th century.
Naval museums display cutlasses as tools of trade rather than weapons of honor—they're notched and dented from actual use rather than ceremonial perfection, revealing the brutal pragmatism of naval combat.
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