Curb — Defs

01 v. t. To bend or curve.

imp. & p. p. Curbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Curbing

1.
To bend or curve.[Obs.]
“Crooked and curbed lines.” — Holland.
2.
To guide and manage, or restrain, as with a curb; to bend to one's will; to subject; to subdue; to restrain; to confine; to keep in check.
“Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed.” — Milton.

“Where pinching want must curb thy warm desires.” — Prior.
3.
To furnish with a curb, as a well; also, to restrain by a curb, as a bank of earth.

02 v. i. To bend; to crouch; to cringe.

1.
To bend; to crouch; to cringe.[Obs.]
“Virtue itself of vice must pardon beg, Yea, curb and woo for leave to do him good.” — Shak.

03 n. That which curbs, restrains, or subdues; a check or hindrance; esp., a chain or strap attached to the upper part of the branches of a bit, …

1.
That which curbs, restrains, or subdues; a check or hindrance; esp., a chain or strap attached to the upper part of the branches of a bit, and capable of being drawn tightly against the lower jaw of the horse.
“He that before ran in the pastures wild Felt the stiff curb control his angry jaws.” — Drayton.

“By these men, religion,that should be The curb, is made the spur of tyranny.” — Denham.
2.
An assemblage of three or more pieces of timber, or a metal member, forming a frame around an opening, and serving to maintain the integrity of that opening; also, a ring of stone serving a similar purpose, as at the eye of a dome.(Arch.)
3.
A frame or wall round the mouth of a well; also, a frame within a well to prevent the earth caving in.
4.
A curbstone.
5.
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.(Far.)

Phrases & compounds

Curb bit — a stiff bit having branches by which a leverage is obtained upon the jaws of horse.

Curb pins — the pins on the regulator which restrain the hairspring.

Curb plate — a plate serving the purpose of a curb.

Deck curb — See under Deck.