Word Study
curfew
CIDE DICTIONARY
curfew, 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.].
- 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. [1913 Webster]"He begins at curfew, and walks till the first cock." [1913 Webster]"The village curfew, as it tolled profound." [1913 Webster] - A utensil for covering the fire. [1913 Webster]"For pans, pots, curfews, counters and the like." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
curfew, 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.
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
ROGET THESAURUS
curfew
Evening
N evening, eve, decline of day, fall of day, close of day, candlelight, candlelighting, eventide, nightfall, curfew, dusk, twilight, eleventh hour, sunset, sundown, going down of the sun, cock-shut, dewy eve, gloaming, bedtime, afternoon, postmeridian, p, m, autumn, fall, fall of the leaf, autumnal equinox, Indian summer, St. Luke's summer, St. Martin's summer, midnight, dead of night, witching hour, witching hour of night, witching time of night, winter, killing time, vespertine, autumnal, nocturnal, midnight, the outpost of advancing day, sable-vested Night, this gorgeous arch with golden worlds inlay'd.For further exploring for "curfew" in Webster Dictionary Online
