curtal
Cur"tal (kr"tal), a. Etym: [OF. courtault, F. courtaud, having a docked tail (cf. It. cortaldo), fr. court short, L. curtus. See Curt, and Curtail.] Defn: Curt; brief; laconic. Essays and curtal aphorisms. Milton. Curtal dog. See Curtail dog. Cur"tal, n. Defn: A horse with a docked tail; hence, anything cut short. [Obs] Nares.