- skip - Brewer’s

Curtal Friar

.

A friar who served as an attendant at the gate of a monastery court. As a curtal dog was not privileged to hunt or course, so a curtal friar virtually meant a worldly-minded one.

“Some do call me the curtal Friar of Fountain Dale; others again call me in jest the Abbot of Fountain Abbey; others still again call me simply Friar Tuck.”—Howard Pyle: The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, ii. p. 141.

 

previous entry · index · next entry

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

previous entry · index · next entry

Curse or Cuss
Curse of Scotland
Curses
Cursing by Bell, Book, and Candle
Cursitor (Latin, clericus de cursu)
Curst
Curtail
Curtain (The)
Curtain
Curtain Lecture
Curtal Friar
Curtana
Curthose
Curtise
Curtmantle
Curule Chair
Curzon Street (London)
Cussedness
Custard
Custard Coffin
Customer