a. [ad. L. curūl-is, currūlis, supposed to be f. curru-s chariot. F. curule.]
1. Rom. Antiq. Curule chair: a chair or seat inlaid with ivory and shaped like a camp-stool with curved legs, used by the highest magistrates of Rome.
1695. Ld. Preston, Boeth., II. 54. When thou sawest them in the Court placed in their Curule Seats.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., II. xxxvi. 349. The curule chair was successively filled by eleven of the most illustrious senators.
1877. C. Geikie, Christ, lxii. 758. The ivory curule chair of the procurator.
2. Privileged to sit in a curule chair; as curule magistrate, curule ÆDILE (q.v.).
1600. Holland, Livy, X. xxxiii. 376. In the time of his curule Ædileship.
1838. Arnold, Hist. Rome, I. xvi. 343. Every curule magistracy was supposed to convey something of kingly and therefore of sacred dignity.
1880. Muirhead, Gaius, I. § 6, note. The curule aediles were first created at the same time as the urban praetor.
3. transf. Pertaining to any high civic dignity or office, as that of a magistrate or mayor.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. i. 715. We that are merely mounted higher Than Constables in Curule Wit.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xii. A wealthy burgher, who might one day … hold the curule chair itself.
1882. W. B. Weeden, Soc. Law Labor, 124. The way of the good apprentice with regular steps to the Lord Mayor’s curule seat.
