Dictionary of Playground Slang (Online)

Canal. During the 19th century there was prolific expansion of the industrial canal systems both in the Midlands, Yorkshire, and especially Lancashire. Canals were "cut into the ground" Thus "Cut" became synonymous with "Canal". "Where's little Jimmy?", " He's playin'in't fiels beside cut".

To insert yourself in front of another person in a queue. At the slide, water fountain, etc. there's always a line (queue). Kids would ask if they could cut you, meaning, "Can I get in front of you?". Requests of this sort were often refused, but some kids would try to cut without asking. Usually someone would tell the teacher about it, and the cutter was punished by being sent to the very back of the line. (ed: Contributor thought this might have been specific to Texas in the 1990's but it is far older than that. I used it with this meaning back in the 1950's!).