The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Curtail \Cur"tail\ (k?r"t?l), n.
   The scroll termination of any architectural member, as of a
   step, etc.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Curtail \Cur*tail"\ (k[u^]r*t[=a]l"), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
   Curtailed (-t[=a]ld"); p. pr. & vb. n. Curtailing.] [See
   Curtal.]
   To cut off the end or tail, or any part, of; to shorten; to
   abridge; to diminish; to reduce.
   [1913 Webster]

         I, that am curtailed of this fair proportion. --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]

         Our incomes have been curtailed; his salary has been
         doubled.                                 --Macaulay.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

curtail
    v 1: place restrictions on; "curtail drinking in school" [syn:
         restrict, curtail, curb, cut back]
    2: terminate or abbreviate before its intended or proper end or
       its full extent; "My speech was cut short"; "Personal freedom
       is curtailed in many countries" [syn: clip, curtail, cut
       short]