a rim, esp. of joined stones or concrete, along a street or roadway, forming an edge for a sidewalk.
2.
anything that restrains or controls; a restraint; check.
3.
an enclosing framework or border.
4.
Also called curb bit.a bit used with a bridoon for control of a horse, to which a chain (curb chain) is hooked.
5.
Also called curb market; British, kerb market, kerbstone market.a market, originally on the sidewalk or street, for the sale of securities not listed on a stock exchange. Compare American Stock Exchange.
6.
the framework around the top of a well.
7.
the arris between an upper and a lower slope on a gambrel or mansard roof.
8.
a belt of metal, masonry, etc., for abutting a dome at its base.
9.
(in a windmill) the track on which the cap turns.
10.
Veterinary Pathology. a swelling on the lower part of the back of the hock of a horse, often causing lameness.
11.
Engineering. the cutting edge at the bottom of a caisson.
[Origin: 1250–1300; ME curb, courbe curved piece of wood (n.), stooped, hunchbacked (adj.) < AF curb, courb curved, bowed; OF < L curvus crooked, bent, curved. See curve]
A concrete border or row of joined stones forming part of a gutter along the edge of a street.
An enclosing framework, such as that around a skylight.
A raised margin along an edge used to confine or strengthen.
Something that checks or restrains: High interest rates put a curb on spending.
A chain or strap that passes under a horse's lower jaw and serves in conjunction with the bit to restrain the horse.
A market, originally on a street or sidewalk, for trading securities that are not listed on a stock exchange.
tr.v.
curbed, curb·ing, curbs
To check, restrain, or control as if with a curb; rein in. See Synonyms at restrain.
To lead (a dog) off the sidewalk into the gutter so that it can excrete waste.
To furnish with a curb.
[Blend of Middle English, curved piece of wood (from Old French corbe, curved object, from corbe, curved, from Latin curvus) and Middle English corbe, horse strap (from corben, to bow down, halt, from Old French corber, to bow down, from Latin curvāre, from curvus, curved, bent; see sker-2 in Indo-European roots).]
1477, "strap passing under the jaw of a horse," from O.Fr. courbe "curve, curb," from L. curvus, from curvare "bend" (see curve). Meaning "enclosed framework" is from 1511, probably originally with a notion of "curved;" extended to margins of garden beds 1731; to "margin of stone between a sidewalk and road" 1836 (sometimes spelled kerb). The verb (1530) is from the notion of putting a curb on a horse; fig. sense first attested 1588.
the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess; "his common sense is a bridle to his quick temper" [syn: bridle]
verb
1.
lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits; "moderate your alcohol intake"; "hold your tongue"; "hold your temper"; "control your anger" [syn: control]
2.
to put down by force or authority; "suppress a nascent uprising"; "stamp down on littering"; "conquer one's desires" [syn: suppress]
3.
keep to the curb; "curb your dogs"
4.
place restrictions on; "curtail drinking in school" [syn: restrict]
Main Entry: curb Pronunciation: 'k&rb Function: noun : a swelling on the back of the hind leg of a horse just behind the lowest part of the hock joint
that is due to strain or rupture of the ligament and generally causes lameness
Curb\ (k?rb), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Curbed (k?rbd); p. pr. & vb. n. Curbing.] [F. courber to bend, curve, L. curvare, fr. curvus bent, curved; cf. Gr. ?????? curved. Cf. Curve.]1. To bend or curve [Obs.] Crooked and curbed lines. --Holland. 2. To guide and manage, or restrain, as with a curb; to bend to one's will; to subject; to subdue; to restrain; to confine; to keep in check. Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed. --Milton. Where pinching want must curbthy warm desires. --Prior. 3. To furnish wich a curb, as a well; also, to restrain by a curb, as a bank of earth.
Curb\, n. 1. That which curbs, restrains, or subdues; a check or hindrance; esp., a chain or strap attached to the upper part of the branches of a bit, and capable of being drawn tightly against the lower jaw of the horse. He that before ran in the pastures wild Felt the stiff curb control his angry jaws. --Drayton. By these men, religion,that should be The curb, is made the spur of tyranny. --Denham. 2. (Arch.) An assemblage of three or more pieces of timber, or a metal member, forming a frame around an opening, and serving to maintain the integrity of that opening; also, a ring of stone serving a similar purpose, as at the eye of a dome. 3. A frame or wall round the mouth of a well; also, a frame within a well to prevent the earth caving in. 4. A curbstone. 5. (Far.) A swelling on the back part of the hind leg of a horse, just behind the lowest part of the hock joint, generally causing lameness. --James Law. Curb bit, a stiff bit having branches by which a leverage is obtained upon the jaws of horse. --Knight. Curb pins (Horology), the pins on the regulator which restrain the hairspring. Curb plate (Arch.), a plate serving the purpose of a curb. Deck curb. See under Deck.
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