The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Curtal \Cur"tal\ (k[^u]r"tal), a. [OF. courtault, F. courtaud,
   having a docked tail (cf. It. cortaldo), fr. court short, L.
   curtus. See Curt, and Curtail.]
   Curt; brief; laconic.
   [1913 Webster]

         Essays and curtal aphorisms.             --Milton.
   [1913 Webster]

   Curtal dog. See Curtail dog.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Curtal \Cur"tal\, n.
   A horse with a docked tail; hence, anything cut short. [Obs]
   --Nares.
   [1913 Webster] Curtle ax
   Curtal ax

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

curtal
    adj 1: (obsolete) cut short; "a dog with a curtal tail"