v.
Pronunciation: ( ˌ )k ə r- ' t ā l
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: by folk etymology from earlier curtal to dock an animal's tail, from curtal, noun, animal with a docked tail, from Middle French courtault ― more at CURTAL
Date: 1580
: to make less by or as if by cutting off or away some part < curtail the power of the executive branch> < curtail inflation>
synonyms see SHORTEN
– cur · tail · er \ - ' t ā -l ə r \ noun