Adjacent Words

Curfew definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

CURFEW, n.
1. The ringing of a bell or bells at night, as a signal to the inhabitants to rake up their fires and retire to rest. This practice originated in England from an order of William the conqueror, who directed that at the ringing of the bell, at eight oclock, every one should put out his light and go to bed. This word is not used in America; although the practice of ringing a bell, at nine oclock, continues in many places, and is considered in New England, as a signal for people to retire from company to their own abodes; and in general, the signal is obeyed.
2. A cover for a fire; a fire-plate. [Not used.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the time that the curfew signal is sounded
2: a signal (usually a bell) announcing the start of curfew restrictions
3: an order that after a specific time certain activities (as being outside on the streets) are prohibited

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French coverfeu, signal given to bank the hearth fire, curfew, from coverir to cover + fu, feu fire, from Latin focus hearth Date: 14th century 1. the sounding of a bell at evening <the Curfew tolls the knell of parting day — Thomas Gray> 2. a. a regulation enjoining the withdrawal of usually specified persons (as juveniles or military personnel) from the streets or the closing of business establishments or places of assembly at a stated hour b. a signal to announce the beginning of a curfew c. the hour at which a curfew becomes effective d. the period during which a curfew is in effect

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a a regulation restricting or forbidding the public circulation of people, esp. requiring people to remain indoors between specified hours, usu. at night. b the hour designated as the beginning of such a restriction. c a daily signal indicating this. 2 hist. a a medieval regulation requiring people to extinguish fires at a fixed hour in the evening. b the hour for this. c the bell announcing it. 3 the ringing of a bell at a fixed evening hour. Etymology: ME f. AF coeverfu, OF cuevrefeu f. the stem of couvrir COVER + feu fire

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Curfew Cur"few (k?r"f?), n. [OE. courfew, curfu, fr. OF. cuevrefu, covrefeu, F. couvre-feu; covrir to cover + feu fire, fr. L. focus fireplace, hearth. See Cover, and Focus.] 1. The ringing of an evening bell, originally a signal to the inhabitants to cover fires, extinguish lights, and retire to rest, -- instituted by William the Conqueror; also, the bell itself. He begins at curfew, and walks till the first cock. --Shak. The village curfew, as it tolled profound. --Campbell. 2. A utensil for covering the fire. [Obs.] For pans, pots, curfews, counters and the like. --Bacon.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(curfews) A curfew is a law stating that people must stay inside their houses after a particular time at night, for example during a war. The village was placed under curfew... In Lucknow crowds of people defied the curfew to celebrate on the streets. N-VAR