jan 1, 1624 - cutwithy

Description:

An attachment to the front end of the plough beam. The precise meaning was discussed by Canon Atkinson (NRQS3/202) who considered that it helped to control the amount of land cut by the coulter. Originally it was probably a withy but was later made of iron, possibly a chain: 1485 <i>j cutwythy iiijd</i>, Clotherholme (SS64/373); 1552 <i>ij yockes, ij iron teames, one harrow and one cutwethy of iron</i>, Ledsham (Th19/311); 1624 <i>stealing two yron cutwithies</i>, Helmsley (NRQS3/201). References to a pair of cutwithies is not unusual: 1565 <i>ij coulters, ij paire cutwydyes, j horse draughte,</i> Knaresborough (SS26/179); 1587 <i>a shakle, a coulter ... 3 peire of cutwithes with all other iron stuff,</i> South Cave (Kaner145).

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