nick
A quay is a platform built parallel to the shore where ships can tie up to. A pier is another four letter word where a ship can dock.
Kerf
'Slit' would fit.
Hew.
One such word is pare.
Another word for a shaving cut is a nick
another word for cut a little?
kill
another word for carved is cut.
i think it is trim.i found it in dictionary.com. i am answering my own question.
Tmesis