h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Why would an Edwardian dandy feel the sudden need to 'cut' someone?

Ah... is this cut as in "cut someone dead" as in to ignore them? What we might now call "blanking someone"? I know in WM Thackery's 'Vanity Fair' this is the gravest social slight....

Cut me some slack was goign to suggest that, cut down dead/as in cut out/blank someone

Ok a stab in the dark here.
In a more refined dual to cut would often do as honour was even if first blood was drawn.

OK as there is no response I will go further hopeing that this is what you are on about.
During the time that I did some living history research for an event on the Isle of Wight I found this.
During the mid 1700's duaing rules for gentlemen (Dandies) were complex, but the rules stated, the dual ended when one of the fighters was disarmed, disabled or cut.

Bob...

Ok time to commit.
Q:_Why would an Edwardian dandy feel the sudden need to 'cut' someone?
A:_If insulted to issue a challenge to a duel to rebut the insult and if swords were the chosen weapon, attempt to win by cutting his opponent as described in my last post.

Waits for claxon

Bob...

As the question is why not what, I'm going to go for a social error, or a fall in status.

Wow, Otto gets it right first post! 2legs came too late to the party.

Huge bonus points will go to the person who can name the four recognised types of cut.

Extended, Director's, Paper and Hair?

Psycorp!

Although I would *love* to accept Psycorp's answer...

The Cut Direct - to look someone straight in the eye and pretend not to recognise them.

The Cut Indirect - to pretend not to see someone you know.

The Cut Sublime - to look at another object in the distance until the acquaintance has passed.

The Cut Infernal - to stop and attend to your shoes until the person has passed.

I was close then.

Yeah, I think you deserve the points .