Cut a Check

Posted by Probe on June 26, 2007

I refer to the archived discussion on the forum and the explanation provided which I copy for easy reference:

QUOTE

I used to work in a bank (savings and loan, actually, from 1979-1983) and one of my functions was to "cut a check" when necessary. We had a check-cutting machine that would not only stamp the amount onto the check and two carbon copies, but would simultaneously "cut" vertical lines while printing the amount onto the top copy. That made it impossible to alter the amount because of the cuts, or perforations, really, in the check. These days checks are printed by laser printers, and no longer cut.

UNQUOTE

My US colleagues in freight forwarding use the same expression related to the Bill of Lading - to cut B/L. Do you think this is just a transfer of the professional term from one field (banking) to another - freight forwarding - or just a coincidence?