curbstone

1 of 2

noun

curb·​stone ˈkərb-ˌstōn How to pronounce curbstone (audio)
: a stone or edging of concrete forming a curb

curbstone

2 of 2

adjective

1
: operating on the street without maintaining an office
a curbstone broker
2
: not having the benefit of training or experience
a curbstone critic

Examples of curbstone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Some called him the Highbrow Hobo, others a curbstone orator, a walking encyclopedia, or a human history book. Michael Jackman, Detroit Free Press, 9 Mar. 2024 At both sites, huge curbstones – carved with spirals, crosshatches, bull's-eyes, and chevrons – add to the mystery. Rick Steves, USA TODAY, 13 Nov. 2019 At both sites, huge curbstones -- carved with spirals, crosshatches, bull's-eyes, and chevrons -- add to the mystery. Rick Steves, chicagotribune.com, 25 Oct. 2019 The company’s digital copy mirrors the position of curbstones and driveways within centimeters, and textures like the grain of asphalt within millimeters. Tom Simonite, WIRED, 14 June 2019

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1791, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of curbstone was in 1791

Dictionary Entries Near curbstone

Cite this Entry

“Curbstone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curbstone. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on curbstone

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!