Definition of "incision"

Wrath-kindled gentlemen, be ruled by me;Let’s purge this choler without letting blood:This we prescribe, though no physician;Deep malice makes too deep incision;

1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The life and death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene 1]

Gunch was so humorous that Mrs. Babbitt said he must “stop making her laugh because honestly it was hurting her incision.”

1922, Sinclair Lewis, chapter 33, in Babbitt, New York, N.Y.: Harcourt, Brace and Company

In the midst of the men a black upright stove sends out its heat. On the glowing holes at the top Ya‘qub Artin has carefully placed some chestnuts, each with a neat incision in its side.

1999, Ahdaf Soueif, chapter 28, in The Map of Love, London: Bloomsbury, published 2000, page 470

The parte of Euacuation by lettyng of blud, is incision or cuttyng of the vayne, wherby the bloud, whiche is cause of syckenes or grefe to the hole body, or any particular part therof, doth most aptly passe.

1539, Thomas Elyot, editor, The Castel of Helthe‎, London, Book 3, Chapter 6

Never considering […] that these miseries of the people are still his own handy work, having smitt’n them like a forked Arrow so sore into the Kingdoms side, as not to be drawn out and cur’d without the incision of more flesh.

1649, John Milton, Eikonoklastes‎, London, pages 94–95

Mnesarchus, early as a sculptor known,From nice incision of the costly stone,

1800, William Hayley, An Essay on Sculpture‎, London: T. Cadell Junior and W. Davies, Epistle 4, page 89

Slowly, as meticulously as if engaged upon a surgical incision, Mr Nox opened his mail.

1964, William Trevor, chapter 21, in The Old Boys, Penguin, published 2014

Riyad Mahrez also dragged wide after a De Bruyne incision.

2021 March 7, David Hytner, “Manchester United catch City cold as Fernandes and Shaw end winning run”, in The Guardian‎