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curtail

Pronunciation: /kɜːˈteɪl/

The English word “curtail” has 4 meanings listed here.

verb

  1. To cut short the tail of (an animal).
  2. To shorten or abridge the duration of; to bring an end to; to truncate.
  3. To limit or restrict; to keep in check.

noun

  1. A scroll termination, as of a step, etc.

Etymology

Alteration of curtal, from Old French courtault (“which has been shortened”), itself from court (“short”) (from Latin curtus) + -ault

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