or Courfew, a signal given in cities taken in war, &c. to the inhabitants to go to bed. Patquin says, it was so called, as being intended to advertise the people to secure themselves from the robberies and debaucheries of the night.

The most eminent curfew in England was that established by William the Conqueror, who appointed, under severe penalties, that, at the ringing of a bell at eight o'clock in the evening, every one should put out their lights and fires, and go to bed: whence, to this day, a bell rung about that time is called a curfew-bell.