cramp vs curb

cramp

verb
  • To prohibit movement or expression of. 

  • (of a muscle) To contract painfully and uncontrollably. 

  • To form on a cramp. 

  • To affect with cramps or spasms. 

  • To fasten or hold with, or as if with, a cramp iron. 

  • To restrain to a specific physical position, as if with a cramp. 

  • To bind together; to unite. 

noun
  • A clamp for carpentry or masonry. 

  • A painful contraction of a muscle which cannot be controlled. 

  • That which confines or contracts. 

  • A piece of wood having a curve corresponding to that of the upper part of the instep, on which the upper leather of a boot is stretched to give it the requisite shape. 

curb

verb
  • To check, restrain or control. 

  • 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 bring to a stop beside a curb. 

noun
  • Something that checks or restrains; a restraint. 

  • 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. 

  • 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. 

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