Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CUT'TLE, or CUT'TLE-FISH, n. [Sax. cudele, from the sense of withdrawing or hiding, allied to cuddle, W. cuziaw, to hide, Arm. cutaff, or cuddyo, to hide.]

1. A genus of Mollusca, called Sepia. They have small arms, with serrated cups, by which they lay fast hold of any thing. They have also two tentacula longer than the arms; the mouth is in the center of the arms, and is horny, and hooked like the bill of a hawk. They feed on sprats, lobsters, and other shell-fish. They have a little bladder under the throat, [near the liver, Cuvier,] from which, when pursed, they throw out a black liquor that darkens the water, by which means they escape. Hence cuttle is used for a foul-mouthed fellow; one who blackens the character of another. – Encyc. Shak.
2. A knife. [Not in use.] – Shak.