cutthroat

Meanings

1. A murderer who slits the throats of victims.
2. An unscrupulous, ruthless or unethical person.
3. A three-player pocket billiards game where the object is to be the last player with at least one ball still on the table.
4. Ellipsis of cutthroat compound (“an agentive-instrumental verb-noun compound word”).

1. Involving the cutting of throats.
2. Of or relating to a card game where everyone plays for him or herself rather than playing with a partner.
3. Ruthlessly competitive, dog-eat-dog.

Etymology

From cut + throat.