DCHP-1 Online
cut-off † 
1 n. a road or trail that cuts off a loop or bend in an older road, thus reducing the distance to be travelled.
- 1859 During the past season individual enterprise has done much towards improving this trail, cut offs have been discovered which have shortened it some 20 miles.
- 1958 Leaving Fort Nelson, we set off for Beatton River, and were soon on the cut-off that leads from the Highway in to the airport.
2 n. a channel resulting from a change in the course of a river.
- 1859 The ice was packed ten feet high, below Six Tree Shoot, and the Maria cut off,--where a portage of a mile had to be made, with a whale-boat, over the ice.
- 1900 Watch out for the open water on the Thirty Mile River, and be sure to take the big cut-off above Le Barge.
- 1952 Between the channels are innumerable shallow lakes and cut-offs of all sizes and shapes.
- 1859 During the past season individual enterprise has done much towards improving this trail, cut offs have been discovered which have shortened it some 20 miles.