kerb
UK[kɜːb]US[kɜːrb]
n
the edge of a raised path nearest the road, often made of stone or concrete.
Etymology
the word 'kerb' is a chiefly british variant spelling of 'curb', which entered english in the late 15th century from old french 'courbe', meaning 'curved object, a curb'. the old french term derived from latin 'curvus', meaning 'bent, curved'. the semantic shift from 'something curved' to 'a stone edging' likely arose from the curved shape of early restraining edges or borders. the spelling distinction between 'kerb' for the stone edge and 'curb' for the meaning of restraint developed in british english during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Analysis
this word is a simplex loanword. its functional role is as a complete noun.
Examples
she stepped off the kerb without looking.
the car mounted the kerb and hit a lamppost.
they repainted the white lines along the kerb.