Obs. [f. L. curt-āre to cut short, shorten, mutilate, f. curtus short.] trans. To cut short, shorten.
a. 1618. Sylvester, Mem. Mortalitie, I. xciii. Curting thy life, hee takes thy Card away.
Hence † Curted ppl. a., shortened, curtailed, curt.
1568. North, trans. Gueuara’s Diall Pr., IV. viii. 129 a. To see a foolish courtier weare … a litel curted cape.
1581. Sidney, Astr. & Stella, xcii. Be your words made, good Sir, of Indian ware, That you allow me them by so small rate? Or do you curtted Spartanes imitate?
1610. Guillim, Heraldry, IV. xiv. (1611), 229. The old Britans … were wont to weare a short and broad Sword; so did the Spartanes also, whom … their Enemies mocked for so curted a weapon.
