Kerb

Kerb

Noun / Verb · /kɜːb/

Definition

(British English) (Noun) the edge of a pavement or raised border along a street, usually made of stone or concrete; (Verb) to restrain or control (British English spelling, equivalent to American English 'curb' in both senses).

Origin

From Old French courbe or Latin curva (a curve), with the architectural sense of a raised curved border. The variant spelling 'kerb' for the pavement edge became standard in British English while 'curb' remained dominant in American English. Used in English from the 17th century.