Curtal Friar
Preserved but no longer current.
Curtal was originally applied to horses — a "curtal horse" was one with its tail docked; hence the adjective came to be used for things in general that were cut down or shortened, and a "curtal friar" was one who wore a short cloak. In later use (especially by Scott) it acquired a vaguely derisory or belittling significance.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Curtal Friar” mean?
Curtal was originally applied to horses — a "curtal horse" was one with its tail docked; hence the adjective came to be used for things in general that were cut down or shortened, and a "curtal friar" was one who wore a short cloak. In later use (especially by Scott) it acquired a vaguely derisory or belittling significance.
Is “Curtal Friar” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.