curtail
2
[ kur-teyl ]
/ ˈkɜrˌteɪl /
noun Architecture.
a horizontal, spiral termination to the lower end of a stair railing.
Also called curtail step.
a starting step having a scroll termination to one or both ends of the tread.
Origin of curtail
2
probably alteration, by folk etymology, of
curtal
Words nearby curtail
cursor,
cursorial,
cursory,
curst,
curt,
curtail,
curtail step,
curtain,
curtain call,
curtain lecture,
curtain line
British Dictionary definitions for curtail step (1 of 2)
curtail step
/ (ˈkɜːteɪl) /
noun
the step or steps at the foot of a flight of stairs, widened at one or both ends and terminated with a scroll
British Dictionary definitions for curtail step (2 of 2)
curtail
/ (kɜːˈteɪl) /
verb
(tr)
to cut short; abridge
Derived forms of curtail
curtailer, noun curtailment, nounWord Origin for curtail
C16: changed (through influence of
tail
1) from obsolete
curtal to dock; see
curtal