Cut a dash

[jUKEjOINT65]

Where does the phrase to "cut a dash" come from? It's usually applied to someone who dresses in a very stylish manner so I would guess the cut refers to cloth?

 

[Quizmonster]

One of the meanings of 'cut' from as far back as the 1600s was to perform/carry out, particularly with reference to gestures etc. 'Dash' has meant a showy appearance or display for nearly as long...hence our more commonly-used word 'dashing', often used of heroes in the not-too-distant past. So, 'to cut a dash' was just to put on such a show...nothing much to do with cloth, I'm afraid.