From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Curb \Curb\ (k[^u]rb), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Curbed} (k[^u]rbd);
p. pr. & vb. n. {Curbing}.] [F. courber to bend, curve,
L.curvare, fr. curvus bent, curved; cf. Gr. kyrto`s curved.
Cf. {Curve}.]
1. To bend or curve. [Obs.]
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Crooked and curbed lines. --Holland.
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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.
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Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed.
--Milton.
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Where pinching want must curb thy warm desires.
--Prior.
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3. To furnish with a curb, as a well; also, to restrain by a
curb, as a bank of earth.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Curb \Curb\, v. i.
To bend; to crouch; to cringe. [Obs.]
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Virtue itself of vice must pardon beg,
Yea, curb and woo for leave to do him good. --Shak.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Curb \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.
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He that before ran in the pastures wild
Felt the stiff curb control his angry jaws.
--Drayton.
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By these men, religion,that should be
The curb, is made the spur of tyranny. --Denham.
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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.
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3. A frame or wall round the mouth of a well; also, a frame
within a well to prevent the earth caving in.
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4. A curbstone.
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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.
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{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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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
curb
n 1: an edge between a sidewalk and a roadway consisting of a
line of curbstones (usually forming part of a gutter) [syn:
{curb}, {curbing}, {kerb}]
2: a horse's bit with an attached chain or strap to check the
horse [syn: {curb}, {curb bit}]
3: a stock exchange in New York [syn: {American Stock Exchange},
{AMEX}, {Curb}]
4: the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess;
"his common sense is a bridle to his quick temper" [syn:
{bridle}, {check}, {curb}]
v 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}, {hold in}, {hold}, {contain}, {check},
{curb}, {moderate}]
2: to put down by force or authority; "suppress a nascent
uprising"; "stamp down on littering"; "conquer one's desires"
[syn: {suppress}, {stamp down}, {inhibit}, {subdue},
{conquer}, {curb}]
3: keep to the curb; "curb your dogs"
4: place restrictions on; "curtail drinking in school" [syn:
{restrict}, {curtail}, {curb}, {cut back}]
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