'curtailment' originates from Middle English, specifically the word 'curtailen,' where 'curt-' meant 'short' and '-ailen' was a suffix indicating action.

'curtailen' transformed into the modern English word 'curtailment' through the addition of the suffix '-ment' to indicate the action or result of curtailing.

Initially, it meant 'to make short or cut short,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'reducing or restricting something.'