Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Curb?

\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\, v. i. To bend; to crouch; to cringe. [Obs.] Virtue itself of vice must pardon beg, Yea, curb and woo for leave to do him good. --Shak.
\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}.