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. (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.
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. (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.
{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}.
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 curbthy warm desires.
--Prior.
3. To furnish wich a curb, as a well; also, to restrain by a
curb, as a bank of earth.
Virtue itself of vice must pardon beg, Yea, curb and
woo for leave to do him good. --Shak.