canker vs curb

canker

noun
  • An obstinate and often incurable disease of a horse's foot, characterized by separation of the horny portion and the development of fungoid growths. Usually resulting from neglected thrush. 

  • An avian disease affecting doves, poultry, parrots and birds of prey, caused by Trichomonas gallinae. 

  • A region of dead plant tissue caused by such a disease. 

  • Anything which corrodes, corrupts, or destroys. 

  • A kind of wild rose; the dog rose. 

  • A plant disease marked by gradual decay. 

  • A corroding or sloughing ulcer; especially a spreading gangrenous ulcer or collection of ulcers in or about the mouth. 

  • A worm or grub that destroys plant buds or leaves; cankerworm. 

verb
  • To be or become diseased, or as if diseased, with canker; to grow corrupt; to become venomous. 

  • To infect or pollute; to corrupt. 

  • To affect as a canker; to eat away; to corrode; to consume. 

  • To waste away, grow rusty, or be oxidized, as a mineral. 

curb

noun
  • A swelling on the back part of the hind leg of a horse, just behind the lowest part of the hock joint, generally causing lameness. 

  • Something that checks or restrains; a restraint. 

  • A concrete margin along the edge of a road; a kerb (UK, Australia, New Zealand) 

  • A riding or driving bit for a horse that has rein action which amplifies the pressure in the mouth by leverage advantage placing pressure on the poll via the crown piece of the bridle and chin groove via a curb chain. 

  • A sidewalk, covered or partially enclosed, bordering the airport terminal road system with adjacent paved areas to permit vehicles to off-load or load passengers. 

  • A raised margin along the edge of something, such as a well or the eye of a dome, as a strengthening. 

verb
  • To rein in. 

  • To bend or curve. 

  • To furnish with a curb, as a well; to restrain by a curb, as a bank of earth. 

  • To crouch; to cringe. 

  • To damage vehicle wheels or tires by running into or over a pavement curb. 

  • To check, restrain or control. 

  • To bring to a stop beside a curb. 

How often have the words canker and curb occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )