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
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
Lightly leap'd the friar off Robin Hood's back, Robin said to him again, Carry me over the water thou curtal friar, Or it shall breed thee pain.
From The Book of Brave Old Ballads by Sir John Gilbert
A boon, a boon, thou curtal friar, I beg it on my knee; Give me leave to set my horn to my mouth, And to blow blasts three.
From The Book of Brave Old Ballads by Sir John Gilbert
Now I may go in and out as I will, being a curtal friar and not now remembered in these parts.
From Robin Hood by N. C. (Newell Convers) Wyeth
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