Past tense of a verb form meaning to shorten or dock, particularly referring to cutting a horse's tail.
Past tense form derived from the verb 'to curt' or 'to curtail,' ultimately from Latin curtus. Used in medieval and early modern English to describe the action of creating a curtal horse.
Medieval farriers (horse doctors) actually kept detailed records of which horses they 'curted' and why—it was considered a significant procedure affecting the horse's market value and working ability.
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