culter, tri, m. [kindr. with Sanscr. kar, to wound, kill; cf. per-cello, clades].
I Orig. a plough-coulter, ploughshare , Plin. 18, 18, 48, § 171 sq.—
II In gen., a knife; so a vintner's knife , Col. 4, 25, 2; 12, 45, 4; a butcher's knife , Plaut. Rud. 1, 2, 46; Liv. 3, 48, 5: qui ad cultrum bovem emunt, i. e. for slaughter , Varr. R. R. 2, 5, 11; Suet. Tib. 25; Scrib. Comp. 13; a razor : cultros metuens tonsorios, Cic. Off. 2, 7, 25: cultrum tonsorium super jugulum meum posui, Petr. 108, 11; Plin. 7, 59, 59, § 211; a hunting-knife , Petr. 40; Suet. Aug. 19; id. Claud. 13; a cook's knife , Plaut. Aul. 3, 2, 3; Varr. ap. Non. p. 195, 16: tympanum versatile, in cultro collocatum, placed on the edge, on the small side, perpendicularly , Vitr. 10, 14; in the same sense: in cultrum collocare, id. 10, 10.—Prov.: sub cultro, under the knife , i. e. in extreme peril or distress , Hor. S. 1, 9, 74.