Our friar is undoubtedly so called from his curtal dogs, or curs as we now call them, for in fact he was not a friar, but a monk of Fountains Abbey, which was of the Cistercian order.
The Curtal Friar here mentioned is undoubtedly the person so frequently occurring in the ballads, as one of the companions of Robin Hood, under the name of Friar Tuck.
A curtail or curtal dog is placed by Howel in the vocabulary at the end of his Dictionary of four languages among hunting-dogs, and is defined to be a dog without a tail good for any service.
This curtal fryer had kept Fountaines Dale Seven long yeeres and more; There was neither knight, lord, nor earle, Could make him yeeld before.
Robin Hood and the Curtal Friar But how many months be in the year?
VII ‘That curtal friar in Fountains Abbey Well can a strong bow draw; He will beat you and your yeomen, Set them all on a row.
XLI This curtal friar had kept Fountains Dale Seven long years or more; There was neither knight, lord, nor earl Could make him yield before.
Whose man art thou,’ said the curtal friar, ‘Comes here to prate with me?
XXI One of his best arrows under his belt To the friar he let flye; The curtal friar, with his steel buckler, He put that arrow by.
XXXIV And whether his men shot east or west, Or they shot north or south, The curtal dogs, so taught they were, They kept their arrows in their mouth.
Now I may go in and out as I will, being a curtal friar and not now remembered in these parts.
I am but a poor anchorite, a curtal friar," replied the other, pushing out for his side of the river.
Did not Tom Tankard rake his curtal toore[715] day standing in the stable?
Yonder was a path that he had ofttimes trod of a mellow evening, with Little John beside him; here was one, now nigh choked with brambles, along which he and a little band had walked when they went forth to seek a certain curtal friar.
He is known as the Curtal Friar of Fountain Abbey, and dwelleth in Fountain Dale.
Now some of you clothe yourselves as curtal friars, and some as rustic peasants, and some as tinkers, or as beggars, but see that each man taketh a good bow or broadsword, in case need should arise.
Thou pratest like an ass," said Robin, "for I could send this shaft clean through thy proud heart before a curtal friar could say grace over a roast goose at Michaelmastide.
But we are losing time," quoth Robin, "and I have yet to find that same Curtal Friar.
Then perchance thou knowest also of a certain one who goeth by the name of the Curtal Friar of Fountain Abbey.
Hold thy hand, good fellow, said the curtal friar, Thy master and I will agree; And we will have new orders taken, With all haste that may be.
And whether his men shot east or west, Or they shot north or south, The curtal dogs, so taught they were, They caught the arrows in their mouth.
The curtal friar in Fountain's Abbey Well can draw a good strong bow; He will beat both you and your yeomen, Set them all on a row.
Lightly leap'd the friar off Robin Hood's back, Robin said to him again, Carry me over the water thou curtal friar, Or it shall breed thee pain.
A boon, a boon, thou curtal friar, I beg it on my knee; Give me leave to set my horn to my mouth, And to blow blasts three.
The curtal friar had kept Fountain Dale, Seven long years and more; There was neither knight, lord, nor earl, Could make him yield before.
That I will do, said the curtal friar, Of thy blasts I have no doubt; I hope thou wilt blow so passing well, Till both thy eyes drop out.
One of the best arrows under his belt To the friar he let fly: The curtal friar with his steel buckler Did put that arrow by.
Robin Hood lighted off his horse, And tied him to a thorn: Carry me over the water, thou curtal friar, Or else thy life's forlorn.
And coming unto fair Fountain Dale, No farther would he ride: There was he 'ware of a curtal friar, Walking by the water-side.
I tell you, I will not be made a curtal for no man's pleasure.
Go, curtal off that neck with present stroke, And straight present it unto Marius.
Preach peace to him as much as thou wilt, I will never be he will say thee nay; but as for bidding the first armourer in Scotland forego the forging of swords, curtal axes, and harness, it is enough to drive patience itself mad.
Curtal Priest," said the Captain, "thou hast been at a wet mass this morning, as early as it is.
I will have them removed stone by stone ere I lose my curtal Friar.
It would seem that the manuscript is here imperfect, for we do not find the reasons which finally induce the curtal Friar to amend the King's cheer.
I'd give bay Curtaland his furniture My mouth no more were broken than these boys', And writ as little beard.
The above list will hopefully give you a few useful examples demonstrating the appropriate usage of "curtal" in a variety of sentences. We hope that you will now be able to make sentences using this word.
