curt
[kurt]
- rudely brief in speech or abrupt in manner.
- brief; concise; terse; laconic.
- short; shortened.
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Origin of curt
First recorded in 1620–30, curt is from the Latin word curtus shortened, short, cut short
Synonyms
See more synonyms for curt on Thesaurus.com1. snappish, sharp. 3. abbreviated.
Synonym study
2. See blunt.
Curt
[kurt]
- a male given name, form of Curtis.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for curt
Contemporary Examples
Former Red Sox star Curt Schilling says his politics are keeping him out of Cooperstown.
Conservative Curt Says His Politics, Not His Pitching, Kept Him Out of the Hall of FameBen Jacobs
January 9, 2015
Sen. Bernie Sanders, a darling of the left who identifies as a democratic socialist, was curt.
The senator also is curt on the subject of the D.C. political magazine that scores the votes of every member of Congress.
Wilson, who spoke to The Daily Beast from a cab on his way back up to Harlem, is curt and cold in conversation.
Curt Smith of Tears for Fears played himself in the fifth season episode “Shawn 2.0.”
Historical Examples
"I believe you are jealous of the malgamite works," he said, with his curt laugh.
Roden's CornerHenry Seton Merriman
His reply was curt and pertinent: "It took long enough, young man!"
Life: Its True GenesisR. W. Wright
Mrs. Marsh was even more hostile and curt than when I had seen her last.
The HarborErnest Poole
“At last you have condescended to come,” said the old proud, curt voice.
The First ViolinJessie Fothergill
The message was curt, and even cold, but it brought her no disquiet.
The ManxmanHall Caine
curt
- rudely blunt and brief; abrupta curt reply
- short or concise
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Word Origin
C17: from Latin curtus cut short, mutilated
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for curt
adj.
mid-14c., from Latin curtus "(cut) short, shortened, incomplete," from PIE root *(s)ker- "to cut" (see short (adj.)). Sense of "rude" is first recorded 1831. The Latin word was adopted early into most Germanic languages (cf. Icelandic korta, German kurz, etc.) and drove out the native words based on Proto-Germanic *skurt-, but English retains short.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper