curtail
1
[ ker-teyl ]
/ kərˈteɪl /
verb (used with object)
to cut short; cut off a part of; abridge; reduce; diminish.
Origin of curtail
1OTHER WORDS FROM curtail
Words nearby curtail
cursor,
cursorial,
cursory,
curst,
curt,
curtail,
curtail step,
curtain,
curtain call,
curtain lecture,
curtain line
Definition for curtail (2 of 2)
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
Example sentences from the Web for curtail
British Dictionary definitions for curtail
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