a. [ OF. courtault, F. courtaud, having a docked tail (cf. It. cortaldo), fr. court short, L. curtus. See Curt, and Curtail. ] Curt; brief; laconic. [ 1913 Webster ]
Essays and curtal aphorisms. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
Curtal dog.
n. A horse with a docked tail; hence, anything cut short. [ Obs ] Nares. [ 1913 Webster ]
A friar who acted as porter at the gate of a monastery. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]