Question

As you probably know, "cut and fill" is the process of removing soil (cutting) from one part of a site and using it to fill another part of a site. What are these other construction-related "cuts"?: "cut nail," "cut boss" (slang), and "cut brick"?

Answer

A "cut nail," cut out of an iron sheet, is a square nail that was once commonly used for nailing into concrete. A "cut boss" is the foreman in an excavation crew. A "cut brick" is a brick cut to shape using an ax, giving it a rougher shape than a gauged brick.