crest vs curb

crest

noun
  • The upper curve of a horse's neck. 

  • The plume of feathers, or other decoration, worn on or displayed on a helmet; the distinctive ornament of a helmet. 

  • The ridge or top of a wave. 

  • A tuft, or other natural ornament, growing on an animal's head, for example the comb of a cockerel, the swelling on the head of a snake, the lengthened feathers of the crown or nape of bird, etc. 

  • The ornamental finishing which surmounts the ridge of a roof, canopy, etc. 

  • The top line of a slope or embankment. 

  • A ridge along the surface of a bone. 

  • A design or logo, especially one of an institution, sports club, association or high-class family. 

  • Any of several birds in the family Regulidae, including the goldcrests and firecrests. 

  • The summit of a hill or mountain ridge. 

  • The helm or head, as typical of a high spirit; pride; courage. 

  • A bearing worn, not upon the shield, but usually on a helmet above it, sometimes (as for clerics) separately above the shield or separately as a mark for plate, in letterheads, and the like. 

verb
  • Particularly with reference to waves, to reach a peak. 

  • To mark with lines or streaks like waving plumes. 

  • To reach the crest of (a hill or mountain) 

  • To furnish with, or surmount as, a crest; to serve as a crest for. 

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 crest and curb occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )