curtal
Americanadjective
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Archaic. wearing a short frock.
a curtal friar.
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Obsolete. brief; curtailed.
noun
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a 16th-century bassoon.
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Obsolete. an animal with a docked tail.
adjective
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cut short
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(of friars) wearing a short frock
noun
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an animal whose tail has been docked
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something that is cut short
Etymology
Origin of curtal
1500–10; earlier courtault < Middle French, equivalent to court short ( see curt) + -ault, variant of -ald noun suffix; see ribald
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Tinselled fantasy is shrewdly banished; putty-coloured, sullen fairies slouch along to the hoots and rustles, sackbut and curtal of Claire van Kampen's eerie music.
From The Guardian ● Jun. 8, 2013
Take up thy dogs, said Little John, Friar, at my bidding thee; Whose man art thou, said the curtal friar, That comes here to prate to me?
From The Book of Brave Old Ballads by Sir John Gilbert
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 The Book of Brave Old Ballads by Sir John Gilbert
The curtal friar had kept Fountain Dale, Seven long years and more; There was neither knight, lord, nor earl, Could make him yield before.
From The Book of Brave Old Ballads by Sir John Gilbert
Consider what a poor curtal we have made of Ocean.
From The Complete Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell by James Russell Lowell
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