Cuttyhunk

island, Massachusetts, United States

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 25, 2026

Quick Summary

Cuttyhunk is the westernmost island in the Elizabeth Islands chain, located off the coast of southeastern Massachusetts, United States. It was visited in 1602 by Bartholomew Gosnold, who established a brief colony there. The name "Cuttyhunk" may derive from a Wampanoag term meaning "a thing that lies out in the great water". Today, the island is primarily a summer vacation destination and is privately owned, accessible only by boat or charter aircraft. The term "cuttyhunk" also refers to a type of hand-laid twisted linen fishing line, named after the island.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Elizabeth Islands
…a short-lived (three-week) colony on Cuttyhunk, the westernmost island, 18 years before the arrival of the Mayflower Pilgrims at Plymouth. The name Cuttyhunk may be a distortion of a Wampanoag Indian term meaning “a thing that lies out in the great water.” Naushon, the largest island, was a British naval…
Read More
…a short-lived (three-week) colony on Cuttyhunk, the westernmost island, 18 years before the arrival of the Mayflower Pilgrims at Plymouth. The name Cuttyhunk may be a distortion of a Wampanoag Indian term meaning “a thing that lies out in the great water.” Naushon, the largest island, was a British naval…
Read More