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Speaking in a quick or short manner; hence, gruff; curt. [Colloq.]

To reduce or diminish in amount, quantity, or extent; to lessen; to abridge; to curtail; to contract; as, to shorten work, an allowance of food, etc. Here, where the subject is so fruitful, I am shortened by my chain. Dryden.

In few words; briefly; abruptly; curtly; as, to express ideas more shortly in verse than in prose.

e (Fort.), the line drawn from the center of one bastion to that of the next, or the line curtain produced to the two oblique radii in front. H. L. Scott. -- Side by side, close together and abreast; in company or along with. -- To choose sides, to select those who shall compete, as in a game, on either side. -- To…

d bottom, back, and ends; - - much used as a comfortable piece of furniture. Let fall the curtains, wheel the sofa round. Cowper. Sofa bed, a sofa so contrived that it may be extended to form a bed; -- called also sofa bedstead.

lay. He directs the stage hands, property man, etc., has charge of all details behind the curtain, except the acting, and has a general oversight of the actors. Sometimes he is also the stage director.

stars, or bright, radiating bodies; to bespangle; as, a robe starred with gems. "A sable curtain starred with gold." Young.

eir purpose; a number of things ordinarily classed or used together; a set; as, a suit of curtains; a suit of armor; a suit of clothes. "Two rogues in buckram suits." Shak.

Limited; abridged; reduced; curtailed; as, estate tail.

A kind of woolen, or woolen and cotton, cloth, often highly glazed, -- used for curtains, sieves, strainers, etc.

llet or band of cotton or linen; a narrow woven fabric used for strings and the like; as, curtains tied with tape.

A pendent ornament, attached to the corners of cushions, to curtains, and the like, ending in a tuft of loose threads or cords.

An outwork in the main ditch, in front of the curtain, between two bastions. See Illust. of Ravelin.

The representation of a tent used as a bearing. Tent bed, a high-post bedstead curtained with a tentlike canopy. -- Tent caterpillar (Zoöl.), any one of several species of gregarious caterpillars which construct on trees large silken webs into which they retreat when at rest. Some of the species are very destructive t…

a fortification, for purposes of defense, as a flanker, either or the same height as the curtain wall or higher.

A barrier, sliding door, movable screen, curtain, or the like. Men drinken and the travers draw anon. Chaucer. And the entrance of the king, The first traverse was drawn. F. Beaumont.

To make ready or right by cutting or shortening; to clip or lop; to curtail; as, to trim the hair; to trim a tree. " And trimmed the cheerful lamp." Byron.

A curtain rod for a bedstead.

To lop off; to curtail; to truncate; to maim. [Obs.] "Out of the trunked stock." Spenser.

To draw aside or open; to draw back. Angels undrew the curtain of the throne. Young.