rough-cut
|rough-cut|
/ˈrʌf kʌt/
coarsely cut; preliminary version
Etymology
'rough-cut' is a compound formed from 'rough' + 'cut'. 'rough' originates from Old English 'rūh' meaning 'coarse, hairy, or uneven', and 'cut' originates from Old English 'cyttan' / Middle English 'cutten', meaning 'to cut'.
'rough' developed from Old English 'rūh' into Middle English 'roug(h)' and eventually modern English 'rough'. 'cut' appears in Old English/Middle English forms such as 'cyttan'/'cutten' and became modern English 'cut'. The compound sense 'rough cut' (literally 'coarsely cut') later extended in the 20th century to a specialized sense in film editing as 'a preliminary edited version'.
Initially, the compound meant simply 'coarsely or roughly cut'. Over time, especially with the rise of film and recorded media in the 20th century, one specialized meaning evolved to denote a preliminary or unpolished edit of audio/video: 'a rough-cut' (preliminary version).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a preliminary, unfinished edit of a film or video — an early assembled version before final editing and polishing.
The director screened a rough-cut of the documentary for the producers.
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Noun 2
a piece of material (stone, wood, metal) that has been cut roughly and not yet finished or refined.
They handed me a rough-cut of the marble before the sculptor began the fine carving.
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Verb 1
to cut or shape roughly; to make an initial rough cut or draft (often used transitively: to rough-cut something).
They rough-cut the footage before sending it to the editor.
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Adjective 1
cut or shaped roughly; not smoothed, refined, or finished.
They set rough-cut timbers in the cabin to keep a rustic look.
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Last updated: 2025/08/31 16:30