Word Study
curtal
CIDE DICTIONARY
curtal, a. [OF. courtault, F. courtaud, having a docked tail (cf. It. cortaldo), fr. court short, L. curtus. See Curt, and Curtail.].
Curt; brief; laconic. [1913 Webster]
"Essays and curtal aphorisms." [1913 Webster]
curtal, n.
A horse with a docked tail; hence, anything cut short. Nares. [1913 Webster]
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