Curfew

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈkəː.fjuː/
• US IPA: /ˈkÉš.fju/

Alternative forms

• cover-few obsolete

Origin

From Anglo-Norman coeverfu and Old French cuevre-fu (French couvre-feu), from the imperative of covrir ("to cover") + fu ("fire").

Full definition of curfew

Noun

1. (historical) A regulation in feudal Europe by which fires had to be covered up or put out at a certain fixed time in the evening, marked by the ringing of an evening bell.
2. The evening bell, which continued to be rung in many towns after the regulation itself became obsolete.
• 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, Folio Society 2006, vol. 1 p. 95:I have my lodging neere unto a tower, where both evening and morning a very great bell doth chime Ave marie and Cover-few, which jangling doth even make the tower to shake ....
3. Any regulation requiring people to be off the streets and in their homes by a certain time.
• 2012 October 31, David M. Halbfinger, "http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/01/nyregion/new-jersey-continues-to-cope-with-hurricane-sandy.html?hp," New York Times (retrieved 31 October 2012)Localities across New Jersey imposed curfews to prevent looting. In Monmouth, Ocean and other counties, people waited for hours for gasoline at the few stations that had electricity. Supermarket shelves were stripped bare.
4. The time when such restriction begins.
5. A signal indicating this time.
6. A fireplace accessory designed to bank a fire by completely covering the embers.

Derived terms

• curfew pass