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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Curb bit

Curb \Curb\, 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.

    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.

Wiktionary
curb bit

n. A type of bit used on a bridle, which works by leverage and has shanks and a curb chain.

WordNet
curb bit

n. a horse's bit with an attached chain or strap to check the horse [syn: curb]

Wikipedia
Curb bit

A curb bit is a type of bit used for riding horses that uses lever action. It includes the pelham bit and the Weymouth curb along with the traditional "curb bit" used mainly by Western riders.

Kimblewicks or "Kimberwickes" are modified curb bits, and a curb bit is used in a double bridle along with a bradoon. A curb bit is, in general, more severe than a basic snaffle bit, although there are several factors that are involved in determining a bit's severity. Liverpool bits are a type of curb bit commonly used for horses in harness.

Usage examples of "curb bit".

You ought to get the heaviest curb bit you can, or else let me swap him for a gentle horse with a more sensitive mouth.

Right after he acquired her and the mule Buck-or they acquired him-he discarded the savage curb bit Learner had used (salvaging the metal) and had the Jones Brothers' harnessmaker convert the bridle into a hackamore.

Hauling on the curb bit, he managed to wheel Angel to the right, checking his headlong charge.

You don't need reining, you need a curb bit and spurs dug into your stubborn ribs!

Dacey skidded back like a horse under a rough curb bit, his expression wary, touched by wild fear.

He set another stitch and studied it critically, then flipped the jointed curb bit with a fingertip.

Paul could not ride the stallion without a curb bit and he would not permit any such device of torture to go in Sunset's tender mouth.