curb

—curbable, adj. —curbless, adj. —curblike, adj.

/kerrb/, n.

1. 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; Brit., kerb market, kerbstone market. a market, originally on the sidewalk or street, for the sale of securities not listed on a stock exchange. Cf. 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. Vet. Pathol. a swelling on the lower part of the back of the hock of a horse, often causing lameness.

11. Engin. the cutting edge at the bottom of a caisson.

12. Carpentry. See purlin plate.

v.t.

13. to control as with a curb; restrain; check.

14. to cause to keep near the curb: Curb your dog.

15. to furnish with or protect by a curb.

16. to put a curb on (a horse).

Also, Brit., kerb (for defs. 1, 15).

[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]

Syn. 13. bridle, repress. See check.

Ant. 13. encourage.

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