/kerr"tl/ , adj.
1. Archaic. wearing a short frock: a curtal friar.
2. Obs. brief; curtailed.
n.
3. a 16th-century bassoon.
4. Obs. an animal with a docked tail.
[ 1500-10; earlier courtault court short (see CURT) + -ault, var. of -ald n. suffix; see RIBALD ]