Obs. rare. [A later spelling of COURBE v., a. F. courber to bend, prob. influenced in form by CURB v.2 and by CURVE, when this was coming in from Latin.]

1

  1.  trans. To bend, bow, curve. See also CURBED ppl. a.1

2

1430.  [see COURBE v. 2].

3

1662.  H. More, Philos. Writ., Pref. Gen. (1712), 15. [The Spirit of Nature] curbs the matter of the Sun into rounds of figure, which would otherwise be oblong.

4

  2.  intr. To bend, bow, cringe.

5

1377.  [see COURBE v. 1].

6

1602.  Shaks., Ham., III. iv. 155 [see COURBE v. 1: mod. edd. curb].

7

a. 1649.  Drumm. of Hawth., Cypress Grove, Wks. (1711), 121. Bodies languishing and curbing.

8

1808.  J. Barlow, Columb., VI. 26. [They] bow the knee And curb, well pleased, O Cruelty, to thee.

9