Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(W.I., Jam.) to catch a person’s eye then, with the intention of offering a deliberate insult, to turn away.

1822		S.A. Mathews ‘Dialogue between Uncoo Cudjoe & Buddy Quow’ in Willshire Squeeze 80: Aw you see um so, ee face wosser more an chat, ee tun ee hed, ee cut ee yie, ee say clebber, hell.
1827		L. Dow Journal (1850) 177/2: Went to New York, took steamboat to New Brunswick, thence Stage No. 7, strangers crossed words and cut eyes [DA].
1898		F.H. Smith Caleb West 70: ‘We come purty nigh leavin’ everybody on the Ledge las’ night,’ [...] said Captain Joe, ‘cutting’ his eye at the skipper as he spoke [DA].
1905		J.G. Cruickshank Negro Humour i: Those important adjuncts of their talk: bow and scrape, ‘cut-eye’ and ‘suck-teeth’.
1947		‘Uncle Newton’ Ups and Downs of Newsy Wapps Bk 3 14: Who you cutting eye after?
1960–82		L. Bennett Auntie Roachy Sey (2003) 31: De bwoy cut him eye again, an same time de manager come through de door.
1986		O. Senior ‘Ballad’ Summer Lightning 132: Every day Jiveman would pass word for Bigger and every day Bigger would just cut him eye and say nothing.
1997		C. Newland Scholar 270: Rosie batted the hand away and cut her eyes at him.
2002		L.K. Johnson ‘Liesense fi Kill’ in Mi Revalueshanary Fren 98: Kristeen kiss her teet / an shi cut me wid her yeye.