curtal

[ kur-tl ]

adjective

1. Archaic. wearing a short frock:

   a curtal friar.

2. Obsolete. brief; curtailed.

noun

1. a 16th-century bassoon.
2. Obsolete. an animal with a docked tail.

curtal

/ ˈkɜːtəl /

adjective

1. cut short
2. (of friars) wearing a short frock

noun

1. an animal whose tail has been docked
2. something that is cut short

Word History and Origins

Origin of curtal¹

1500–10; earlier courtault < Middle French, equivalent to court short ( curt ) + -ault, variant of -ald noun suffix; ribald

Word History and Origins

Origin of curtal¹

C16: from Old French courtault animal whose tail has been docked, from court short, from Latin curtus; see curt

Example Sentences

Here is a thong indeed, by the mass, though ich speak it; Tom Tankard's great bald curtal, I think, could not break it!

From Project Gutenberg

Now I may go in and out as I will, being a curtal friar and not now remembered in these parts.

From Project Gutenberg

One of the best arrows under his belt To the friar he let fly: The curtal friar with his steel buckler Did put that arrow by.

From Project Gutenberg

I with ‘gallant curtal axe,’ dressed as a youth.

From Project Gutenberg

Hope is a curtal dog in some affairs: II.

From Project Gutenberg