curber
(ˈkɜːbə(r))
Also 6 courber, 7 curbar.
[f. curb v.2 + -er1.]
1. One who or that which curbs, or restrains.
| 1610 Healey St. Aug. Citie of God 45 Carthage..the greatest curber and terror of the Roman weale-publike. 1737 L. Clarke Hist. Bible viii. (1740) 568 Great curbers of their passions. a 1849 J. C. Mangan Poems (1859) 37 The instructress of maidens And curber of boys. |
† 2. Thieves' cant. (See quot. 1591.) Obs. [Perhaps a distinct word.]
| 1591 Greene 2nd Pt. Conny-catch. (1592) 24 The Courber, which the common people call the Hooker, is he that with a Curb (as they tearm it) or hook, doth pul out of a window any loose linnen cloth, apparell, or..other houshold stuffe. 1602 Rowlands Greene's Ghost (1860) 41 A hooker, whom Conicatching English cals Curbar. |