Curfew — Law Dictionary

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

A town bell rung in the evening as a signal for extinguishing lights and fires.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

An institution supposed to have been introduced into England by order of William the Conqueror, which consisted in the ringing of a bell or bells at eight o'clock at night, at which signal the pcople were required to extinguish all lights in their dwellings, and to put out or rake up their fires, and retire to rest, and all companies to disperse. The word is probably derived from the French couvre feu, to cover the fire.

A Law Dictionary and Glossary

George C. Kinney · 1893

In old English law. A belj 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 co Ver his fire, and put out his light.

A New Law Dictionary and Glossary

Alexander M. Burrill · 1850

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.