[In Branch I, dating back to 16th c., app. f. CURB sb. 1; Branch II is much later, f. CURE sb. 12.]
I. 1. trans. To put a curb on (a horse); to restrain or control with a curb.
1530. Palsgr., 500/1. I courbe a horse, I fasten the courbe under his chynne.
1667. Milton, P. L., XI. 643. Part wield thir Arms, part courb the foaming Steed.
1878. M. A. Brown, Nadeschda, 25. Curbing his fiery steed … with foaming bit.
2. fig. To restrain, check, keep in check.
1588. J. Udall, Diotrephes (Arb.), 10. Bridles to curbe them that kicke at their lordlines.
1607. Shaks., Cor., III. i. 39. To curbe the will of the Nobilitie.
a. 1631. Donne, Paradoxes (1652), 25. To curbe our naturall appetites.
1726. Adv. Capt. R. Boyle, 106. She begg’d me to curb my transport, for fear of being overheard.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 217. To curb the power of France.
† b. Const. of, from. Obs.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., I. i. 54. The faire reuerence of your Highnesse curbes mee, From giuing reines and spurres to my free speech. Ibid. (1596), Merch. V., IV. i. 217. Curbe this cruell diuell of his will.
1719. W. Wood, Surv. Trade, 297. To curb or restrain our own Subjects from their natural Rights.
II. 3. To furnish or defend with a curb or curbstone. (In the latter case commonly kerb.)
1861. Sunderland Times, 21 Sept. That the footpath behind Cumberland-terrace be flagged and kerbed.
1874. Knight, Dict. Mech., s.v. Curb, In sinking wells by sections which are curbed before another section is excavated. Ibid., The well at Southampton was … curbed in this way.
1878. W. R. Martin, in N. Amer. Rev., CXXVII. 441. It [the street] is curbed, lighted, sewered, and repaved with better material.
III. † 4. Thieves’ cant. (See CURBER 2.) [Perhaps a distinct word.] Obs.
a. 1592. Greene, Theeves falling out, in Harl. Misc., VIII. 389 (D.). Though you can foyst, nip, prig, lift, curbe, and use the black art.
