curtal

UK: /ˈkɜːt^əl/ US: (kûr′tl)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

cur•tal  (kûr′tl), adj. 

1. [Archaic.] wearing a short frock:
   a curtal friar.
2. [Obs.] brief;
   curtailed.

n. 

3. Music and Dance a 16th-century bassoon.
4. [Obs.] an animal with a docked tail.

• Middle French, equivalent. to court short (see curt) + -ault, variant of -ald noun, nominal suffix; see ribald
• earlier courtault 1500–10

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

curtal / ˈkɜːt^əl/ 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

Etymology: 16th Century: from Old French courtault animal whose tail has been docked, from court short, from Latin curtus; see curt