Curfew
A New Law Dictionary and Glossary · Alexander M. Burrill · 1850
A New Law Dictionary and Glossary
Curfeu. \L. Fr. couvrefeu; from couvrir, to cover, and/et*, fire; L. Lat. ignitegium,'] In old English law. A bell which rang at eight o'clock in the evening in the time of William the Conqueror, by which every person was commanded to rake up, or cover his fire, and put out his light. Termes de la ley.
Cowell. Spelman. 4 Bl. Com. 420. Tomlins.
This was abolished by Henry I., but the term was long applied in England to the ringing of any hell customarily towards bed-time. Stow^s Annals.
Cowell.
See Ignitegium.
See Ignitegium.