curb

Etymology

From Middle French courbe (“curve, curved object”), from Latin curvus (“bent, crooked, curved”). Doublet of curve.

noun

1. (American spelling, Canadian spelling) A concrete margin along the edge of a road; a kerb (UK, Australia, New Zealand)
2. A raised margin along the edge of something, such as a well or the eye of a dome, as a strengthening.
3. Something that checks or restrains; a restraint.
   The same also is that burning mention’d by S. Paul, whereof mariage ought to be the remedy; the Flesh hath other naturall and easie curbs which are in the power of any temperate man.. 1643, John Milton, Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce
   She maintains that the internet should face similar curbs to TV because young people are increasingly living online. "It's totally different, someone at Google watching the video from the comfort of their office in San Francisco to someone from a council house in London, where this video is happening right outside their front door." April 19, 2012, Josh Halliday, “Free speech haven or lawless cesspool – can the internet be civilised?”, in The Guardian
4. A riding or driving bit for a horse that has rein action which amplifies the pressure in the mouth by leverage advantage placing pressure on the poll via the crown piece of the bridle and chin groove via a curb chain.
   He that before ran in the pastures wild / Felt the stiff curb controul his angry jaws. 1605, Michael Drayton, The Fourth Eclogue
5. (Canada, US) A sidewalk, covered or partially enclosed, bordering the airport terminal road system with adjacent paved areas to permit vehicles to off-load or load passengers.
6. 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.

verb

1. (transitive) To check, restrain or control.
   Curb your dog
   Where pinching want must curb her warm desires.
   But the village's growth was curbed by the cliffs that restricted onward exploration for visitors, while goods such as coal and lime, which had arrived by water, were being transported up the severe incline to the town of Lynton by horse and cart. January 13 2021, Dr Joseph Brennan, “Spectacular funiculars”, in RAIL, issue 922, page 53
2. (transitive) To rein in.
3. (transitive) To furnish with a curb, as a well; to restrain by a curb, as a bank of earth.
4. (transitive, slang) Ellipsis of curb stomp.
5. (transitive) To bring to a stop beside a curb.
   As had become her habit, Jane rove past her destination and curbed the car on a side street a block and a half away. 2017, Dean Koontz, The Silent Corner, page 34
6. (transitive) To damage vehicle wheels or tires by running into or over a pavement curb.
7. (transitive) To bend or curve.
8. (intransitive) To crouch; to cringe.