\Cur"tal\ (k?r"tal), a. [OF. courtault, F. courtaud,
having a docked tail (cf. It. cortaldo), fr. court short, L.
curtus. See {Curt}, and {Curtail}.]
Curt; brief; laconic.
      Essays and curtal aphorisms.             --Milton.
{Curtal dog}. See {Curtail dog}.

\Cur"tal\, n.
A horse with a docked tail; hence, anything cut short. [Obs]
--Nares.