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

Curtal is a small horse; properly one who hath his tail docked or curtailed.

From Project Gutenberg

"I am but a poor anchorite, a curtal friar," replied the other, pushing out for his side of the river.

From Project Gutenberg

A gret doble trottynge hors called a curtal, for his lordship to ride out on out of towns.

From Project Gutenberg

Some blackguard or other, I think it was Sybrandt, said, "A lie is not like a blow with a curtal axe."

From Project Gutenberg

Item, double trottynge hors, called a curtal, for his lordship to ryde on out of townes.

From Project Gutenberg