cull

Meanings

1. To pick or take someone or something (from a larger group).
2. To gather, collect.
3. To select animals from a group and then kill them in order to reduce the numbers of the group in a controlled manner.
4. To kill (animals, etc).
5. To lay off in order to reduce the size of, get rid of.
6. To selectively not render or process certain objects, such as polygons.

1. A selection.
2. An organized killing of selected animals.
3. An individual animal selected to be killed, or item of produce to be discarded.
4. A lobster having only one claw.
5. A piece unfit for inclusion within a larger group; an inferior specimen.

1. A fool, gullible person; a dupe.
2. A man or boy.

1. A surname.

Etymology

From Middle English cullen, cuilen, coilen, from Old French cuillir (“collect, gather, select”), from Latin colligō (“gather together”). Doublet of coil.