Forms: 5–7 corbe, curbe, 6–7 courbe, 7 courb, corb, kurbe, 7– curb (dial. 6–7 crubb(e, 9 crub); also β. (chiefly in senses 8–13) 7 kerbe, 7–9 kirb, 9 kerb. See also CRUB. [The senses here placed all derive ultimately from F. courbe adj. (= Pr. corb, Sp., Pg., It. curvo):—L. curvus bent, crooked, or from F. courber:—L. curvāre: see CURB v.1 But their immediate etymological history presents differences, and Branches I and II might be treated as distinct words. Branch I appears only in Eng., and seems to be a derivative from CURB v.1, in the sense ‘that which curbs or bends the horse’s neck’; it seems to be the source of CURB v.2, under the influence of which again some of the senses under Branch III have arisen. Branch II contains a variety of senses found under F. courbe, subst. use of courbe adj. Branch III appears also to have originated in F. courbe in the sense of a curved or arched piece of timber, iron, etc., used for structural purposes; but the sense appears to have been gradually modified after CURB v.2, so as to involve more and more the sense of a restraining or confining border. In this group the word is often spelt KERB, which is at present established in sense 12. Cf. KENNEL.]
I. 1. A chain or strap passing under the lower jaw of a horse, and fastened to the upper ends of the branches of the bit; used chiefly for checking an unruly horse.
The reins being attached to the lower ends of the branches of the bit, leverage is obtained for forcing the chain against the jaw of the horse.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 52. If he yeue him [a strong hors] not a strong bitte with a corbe, he shal neuer con gouerne him.
1530. Palsgr., 209/1. Courbe for a bridell, gourmette.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. i. 1. His angry steede did chide his foming bitt, As much disdayning to the curbe to yield.
1684. R. H., Sch. Recreat., 24. A plain watering Chain, Cheek large, and the Kirb, thick round and big.
1782. Cowper, Gilpin, xxii. That trot became a gallop soon In spite of curb and rein.
1835. W. Irving, Tour Prairies, 180. This fine young animal…. He was suddenly reduced to … pass his life under the harness and the curb.
2. fig. Anything that curbs or restrains; a check, restraint.
1613. Sylvester, Microcosmogr., Wks. 800. Service is to the Lofty minde A Curb, a Spur to th’ abiect Hinde.
1632. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 112. So checkt was his forwardnesse with the curbe of bashfulnesse.
1720. Ozell, Vertot’s Rom. Rep., I. VII. 417. A Dictator, whose Authority might be a Curb upon the Cabals and Intrigues of the Tribunes.
1854–6. Patmore, Angel in Ho., I. II. ix. In what rough sort he chid his wife For want of curb upon her tongue.
1871. G. Meredith, H. Richmond, xxxiv. (1889), 352. My temper was beginning to chafe at the curb.
3. Electric Telegr. A method of signalling through a long cable, by sending a powerful signal followed by one or more weak signals of opposite sign, the effect of which is to ‘curb’ or prevent the main signal from lingering in the cable; a signal transmitted in this way. Only in Comb., as curb-key, curd sender (an instrument for transmitting signals in this way); curb-sending, -signal.
1867. Culley, Handbk. Pract. Telegr. (ed. 2), 247. Arrangements … for discharging a cable rapidly, and for equalising the effect of dashes and dots; the most effective of which is the curb key.
1877. Jrnl. Soc. Telegr. Eng., V. 213. The object of the automatic curb-sender is to diminish the retardation of signals in long cables.
1877. Telegraphic Jrnl., 1 Feb., 27. This system of using two currents, one to produce the signal and the other … to neutralize … the residual effect of the first, is what is known as Curb-Sending. Ibid. Trials have been made … to send curb-signals by means of a hand-key.
II. Corresp. to F. courbe sb. in various senses.
4. A hard swelling on the hock or other part of a horse’s leg; the disease characterized by these.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 107. A courbe is an yll sorance, and maketh a horse to halte sore, and appereth vppon the hynder legges … vnder the camborell place.
1616. Surfl. & Markh., Country Farme, 145, margin. The courbe, or a long swelling beneath the elbow of the hough.
1695. Lond. Gaz., No. 3132/4. One brown Gelding … a Curb on his near Hock.
1741. Compl. Fam. Piece, III. 458. For the Curb, you must leave out the Mercury.
1844. Regul. & Ord. Army, 380. The Horses … show no tendency to Curb or Spavin.
† 5. A curve, an arc. [F. courbe.] Obs. rare.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 118. The very coasts of this streight Bosphorus … boweth and windeth like a curb to Mœotis.
1759. trans. Montaigne, III. iii. 51. The form of my study is round … so that the curb presents me with a view of all my books.
6. A mold or template by which to mark out curved work. (Sometimes spelt kerb.)
1792. P. Nicholson, Carpenter’s New Guide (1801), 21. The ceiling wants to be hollowed out … I shall … show the method of making a curb for that purpose…. A curve being traced round the points of intersection, will give the form of the curb.
1859. Donaldson & Glen, Specifications, 582. The Carpenter is to … provide all kerbs and trammels for tanks and vaults.
† 7. Thieves’ cant. A hook. Obs.
1591. [see CURBER 2].
III. An enclosing framework or border: in the first place, the curved border of something round, but eventually applied also to things straight.
The name appears to have originally connoted the curved outline merely, and to have gradually taken more and more from the sense of CURB v.2, until this became the characteristic notion, and that of curvature entirely disappeared. Also spelt kerb († kirb).
8. A frame or ‘coaming’ round the top of a well (to which the lids or covers are fastened).
1511. MS. Acc. St. John’s Hosp. Canterb., Payd for mendyng off a boket off sen johnys welle jd … for a stapylle & a hooke jd … for … ij corbys ijs iiijd. Ibid. (1512), For mendyng off þe corbe a bowt þe welle. Ibid. (1610), For caryng of the courb of the well to Ivy leane.
1807. Hutton, Course Math., II. 252. A carpenter is to put an oaken curb to a round well, at 8d. per foot square: the breadth of the curb is to be 71/4 inches, and the diameter within 31/2 feet.
1839. Sir C. Fellows, Trav. Asia Minor (1852), 18. The mouths or curbs of the wells are formed of the capitals of extremely fine Corinthian pillars.
b. A framing round the top of a brewer’s copper; c. An aperture in a floor or roof to support a trap-door or sky-light.
1664. Evelyn, Sylva, I. iv. § 15. [Elm] scarce has any superior for kerbs of coppers.
1743. Lond. & Country Brewer, III. (ed. 2), 211. Fastening his two wooden Doors just above the Curb of the Copper.
1852–61. Archit. Publ. Soc. Dict., s.v., Curb, The name curb is also given … to the frame of … a skylight.
1859. Donaldson & Glen, Specifications, 566. The top being prepared to receive the continuous kerb for the grating. Ibid., 578. The floor grating to the Hall is to be fitted with a curb of York stone … rebated on the top edge for the grating.
9. A circular plate or cylindrical ring of timber or iron round the edge of any circular structure (usually to hold it firmly together).
a. A circular or other curvilinear wall-plate at the springing of a dome.
b. A cylindrical ring around the ‘eye’ of a dome or similar structure, into which the ribs are framed (sometimes supporting a lantern or cupola).
c. The ‘race-plate’ on the top of the fixed portion of a windmill, on which travel the rollers of the cap as it rotates; also, the circular plate or ring at the base of the cap of a windmill, carrying the rollers.
1733. F. Price, Brit. Carpenter (1753), 28. The kirb, on which stands a lanthorn, or cupola.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 48. One Kirb or circle of compass timber at each floor.
1820. Tredgold, Carpentry (1853), 219. The brick dome … of St. Mark, at Venice … was built upon a curb of larch timber … intended to resist the tendency which a dome has to spread outwards at the base.
1857. J. Walker, Specif. Whitby High Lantern, The curb at the top for receiving the ends of the rafters is to consist of a ring of gun-metal.
1885. A. R. Wolff, Windmill, 64. The cap, or head, of the mill … is made of timber … with a circular curb at the lower part, which revolves upon the one attached to the body of the mill…. The rollers … are attached to the upper curb, and revolve against the … lower one.
10. A cylindrical ring of timber, iron, etc., forming the base on which the brickwork of a shaft or well is constructed.
This ‘curb’ may be built into the crown of the arch of a tunnel, as in the case of a ventilating shaft (cf. 9 b); or it may, as in the construction of a mine-shaft, descend with the steening which it bears, as the excavation proceeds.
1811. Farey, Derbyshire, I. 327. A curb, or flat ring of sound oak or elm is laid on the bottom, on which the stones or bricks are built to the top. The sinking is then begun within this curb.
1838. F. W. Simms, Public Wks. Gt. Brit., 32. The brickwork shall rest upon a cast-iron curb, fitting into the crown of the arch of the tunnel, forming a level base for the shaft to rest upon. Ibid. (1844), Tunnelling, 46. The sinking was attempted by means of a barrel (or drum) curb, which upon being undermined descended by its own weight and that of the brickwork (which was constructed upon the curb). Ibid., 109. The shaft … can be securely connected with the crown of the tunnel, by means of a curb of brick or cast iron.
11. A raised margin or edging around an oast, to confine the hops; also round a bed in a garden or hothouse, or round a hearth, to serve as a fender.
1731–7. Miller, Gard. Dict., s.v. Lupulus, The Hops must be spread even upon the Oast a Foot thick or more, if the Depth of the Curb will allow it.
1881. Gard. Chron., No. 412. 655/3. The curbs are filled with a nice lot of plants.
1882. Worc. Exhib. Catal., iii. 3. Polished brass curb.
b. An inclined circular plate placed round the edge of a soap or salt kettle to prevent the contents from boiling over.
1874. in Knight, Dict. Mech.
12. A margin of stone or other strong material protecting the outer edge of a side-walk and separating it from the roadway on which horses and vehicles travel. Usually spelt kerb.
1836. Libr. Entert. Knowl., Pompeii (ed. 4), I. 91. These curbs [in woodcut, marked ‘kirb’] … separate the foot pavement from the road.
1861. Smiles, Engineers, II. 29. In fixing the kerbs along the London footpaths.
1882. Nature, XXV. 517. The idea is to make the curb of the pavement in the form of an iron box.
transf. 1867. Howells, Ital. Journ., 124. Leaning on the curb of the precipitous rock.
13. In various other technical senses, some of which are difficult to classify.
a. Archit., Building, etc. An edge or ‘nosing,’ as e.g. to a step; also a raised band (not sufficiently high to be a ‘dwarf wall’) to receive the lower ends of the palisades or railings of an enclosure or partition; a breast-wall or retaining-wall to hold up a bank of earth; one of the plates forming the top of the sides of a green-house: the lower of the two planes forming the slope of a curb- or mansard-roof; ‘the flashing of lead over the curb-plate to a curb-roof’: ‘the woodwork forming the arris of a plaster-work groin’ (Archit. Publ. Soc. Dict.); also applied to a ‘crib’ or cage to contain concrete until hardened, as in a foundation.
b. The cylindrical casing within which a vortex-turbine wheel revolves; also the curved guide encompassing part of the periphery of a breast-wheel or scoop-wheel to confine and direct the water against its buckets or floats.
† c. A ‘stilling’ or stand in a brewery to support a cask, etc. Obs.
1819. P. Nicholson, Archit. Dict., I. 308. Curb for Brick Steps, a timber nosing … not only to prevent the steps from wearing, but also from being dislocated.
1852–61. Archit. Publ. Soc. Dict., s.v., The edge, to a brick or tile step, is also called a curb, even if it be merely a stone or timber nosing. Ibid., Where wrought iron railing bars set close are let into it … a cast iron curb is now much used. Ibid., The plane, a b [of the roof] is popularly called the curb.
1859. Donaldson & Glen, Specifications, 619. Kerb part of the tower roof is to be covered with 6 lb. lead … the surface of the kerbs is to be turned up against the cheeks of the dormers.
1825. Fosbroke, Encycl. Antiq., I. 364. Ancient brew-houses had troughs of lead set on the ground, or on courbes.
† 14. Of uncertain meaning. Obs.
1495. Will of Sir R. Porter (Somerset Ho.). I bequeith to the church of Conway a furnesse and a Curbe of lede to hill [= cover, roof] the church with.
1527. Lanc. Wills (Chetham Soc.), 36. Item I beqweth … a grett pott off brasse and my corbes of leyde a grat of hyron. Item a broche of yron.
IV. 15. attrib. and Comb. Curb-bit, -bridle, a bit (or bridle) with a curb; curb-chain, a chain acting as a curb; curb-hook, ‘a hook which the curb is hitched to’ (Felton, Carriages Gloss.); curb-key, -sender, -signal (see 3); curb-pin (see quot. 1874). Also CURB-PLATE, -ROOF, -STONE.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 305/2. Mr. Morgan calls … a Bit or Snaffle … Curbs or *Curb Bits.
1710. Lond. Gaz., No. 4698/4. A white Bridle, with a very light Kirb Bit.
1847. Youatt, Horse, i. 15. To the Romans may be attributed the invention of the curb-bit.
1677. Lond. Gaz., No. 1163/4. A green velvet Saddle … and a *curb Bridle.
1795. Wolcott (P. Pindar), Pindariana, Wks. 1812, IV. 213. For those passions make a strong Curb-bridle.
1833. J. Holland, Manuf. Metal, II. 312. This rise in the bit is made to press hard against the roof of the horse’s mouth, at the same time that the *curb chain closely presses the chin.
1874. Knight, Dict. Mech., *Curb-pins, the pins on the lever of a watch-regulator which embrace the hair-spring of the balance and regulate its vibrations.
1884. F. J. Britten, Watch & Clockm., 106. A balance spring uncontrolled by curb pins.
