*curb*

n. a natural family of plants including the cucumber; melon; squash; and pumpkin.
Syn. -- family Cucurbitaceae, gourd family. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ Cf. F. cucurbitacé. ] (Bot.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a family of plants of which the cucumber, melon, and gourd are common examples. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ L. cucurbita a gourd: cf. F. cucurbite. See Gourd. ] (Chem.) A vessel or flask for distillation, used with, or forming part of, an alembic; a matrass; -- originally in the shape of a gourd, with a wide mouth. See Alembic. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having the shape of a gourd seed; -- said of certain small worms. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Curbed p. pr. & vb. n. Curbing. ] [ F. courber to bend, curve, L.curvare, fr. curvus bent, curved; cf. Gr. kyrto`s curved. Cf. Curve. ] 1. To bend or curve. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Crooked and curbed lines. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where pinching want must curb thy warm desires. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To furnish with a curb, as a well; also, to restrain by a curb, as a bank of earth. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To bend; to crouch; to cringe. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Virtue itself of vice must pardon beg,
Yea, curb and woo for leave to do him good. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

He that before ran in the pastures wild
Felt the stiff curb control his angry jaws. Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

By these men, religion, that should be
The curb, is made the spur of tyranny. Denham. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Arch.) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A frame or wall round the mouth of a well; also, a frame within a well to prevent the earth caving in. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A curbstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Far.) 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. James Law. [ 1913 Webster ]

Curb bit, a stiff bit having branches by which a leverage is obtained upon the jaws of horse. Knight. --
Curb pins (Horology), the pins on the regulator which restrain the hairspring. --
Curb plate (Arch.), a plate serving the purpose of a curb. --
Deck curb. See under Deck. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. held back from some action, especially by force. Opposite of unrestrained.
Syn. -- checked, restrained. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Having no curb or restraint. [ 1913 Webster ]

A roof having a double slope, or composed, on each side, of two parts which have unequal inclination; a gambrel roof. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. the edge of a sidewalk that borders a curb; as, policemen stood at intervals along the curbside [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A stone set along a margin as a limit and protection, as along the edge of a sidewalk next the roadway; an edge stone. [ 1913 Webster ]

Curbstone broker. See under Broker. [ 1913 Webster ]