cust

Cust is a term used in several English-language contexts, most commonly as an abbreviation for customer. In business, retail, and service industries, cust appears in informal notes, documentation, and database schemas to denote the purchaser or client. It is often seen in field names and identifiers such as cust_id or cust_name, where it helps distinguish customers from other entities like suppliers, employees, or partners.

In computing and data management, cust is a frequent shorthand for a customer record. It facilitates compact representation in code, spreadsheets, and data models, and is typically paired with related terms such as order, address, and contact to form a complete customer profile. The usage of cust as a label is widespread in examples and tutorials dealing with customer relationship management and transactional systems.

Cust is also a surname of English origin. Historical records show it as a family name dating to the medieval period, with bearers of the surname appearing in various regions and social contexts. As a surname, Cust can be linked to genealogical lineages and local landholding or governance in certain counties, though the prominence and details of individual branches vary over time.

Etymologically, the abbreviation likely arises from the longer word customer, itself rooted in trade terminology that developed with the growth of commercial activity in English-speaking regions.

In sum, Cust functions primarily as a practical shorthand in commerce and computing, while also existing as an English surname with historical usage. See also customer and related terms.