Normal English cut (4)
I believe the answer is:
pare
'cut' is the definition.
(paring is a kind of cutting)
'normal english' is the wordplay.
'normal' becomes 'par'.
'english' becomes 'e' (abbreviation).
'par'+'e'='PARE'
(Other definitions for pare that I've seen before include "Trim by slicing" , "Cut down gradually" , "Whittle" , "Trim by cutting" , "Remove the skin from" .)