Cut and run to get out of France (4)
I believe the answer is:
etch
'cut' is the definition.
(I know that etch is a more specific form of the action carve)
I don't understand the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for etch that I've seen before include "Carve into metal with acid" , "Score deeply" , "Cut into a block used for printing" , "Delineate" , "Engrave (metal, glass etc.)" .)