Podcast Title: Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day
Host/Author: Merriam-Webster
Episode: Curfew
Release Date: March 13, 2025

Introduction to the Word of the Day

In the March 13, 2025 episode of Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day, hosted by Peter Sokolowski, the featured word is "curfew." The episode delves into the multifaceted meanings of the term, its contemporary applications, and its historical roots, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the word.

Definition and Modern Usage

Curfew is defined as a noun with two primary meanings:

1. Legal or Official Order: A regulation that mandates individuals to remain indoors after a specified time during the night. This usage is prevalent in contexts such as public safety measures or emergency lockdowns.

2. Parental or Caregiver Directive: In the United States, curfew commonly refers to the time set by parents or guardians by which a child or teenager must return home. This familial application underscores the word's flexibility in both formal and informal settings.

Quote:
"Chiefly in the United States, curfew is also used to refer to the time set by a parent or caregiver at which a child has to be back home after going out." [00:42]

Literary Example

To illustrate the word in context, the episode references "Kingdom on Kareem Wooden Walton and the Turbulent Days of the UCLA Basketball Dynasty" by Scott Howard Cooper. The example highlights how curfew is seamlessly integrated into narratives:

Quote:
"Lou Alcindor narrowed his college choice to Michigan, Columbia, St. John's and UCLA. He liked Columbia as the chance to attend school, walking distance to Harlem and a subway ride to the jazz clubs. He had to leave early as a high schooler to make curfew." [00:42]

This excerpt not only demonstrates the word's application but also subtly contrasts the traditional origins of curfew with its modern familial usage.

Historical Origins of "Curfew"

Peter Sokolowski provides an insightful exploration into the etymology of curfew, tracing its origins back to the 14th century:

1. Medieval European Context: Initially, curfew referred to the sounding of a bell in the evening to signal residents to extinguish their hearth fires. This precaution was crucial in densely populated medieval European towns to prevent the spread of fires from one household to another.

   Quote:
   "When curfew was first used in the 14th century, it referred to the sounding of a bell at evening to alert people that they should cover their hearth fire for the night." [00:42]

2. Linguistic Roots: The term entered the English language from Anglo-French, where it was known as couvre-feu. This compound consists of couvre, meaning "to cover," and feu, meaning "fire," directly relating to its original purpose.

   Quote:
   "The word came to English from Anglo French, in which the signal was called couvre feu, a compound of couvriere, meaning to cover, and feu, meaning fire." [00:42]

3. Evolution of Meaning: Over time, even after the regulation of hearth fires became obsolete, many towns maintained the tradition of ringing an evening bell. This practice evolved to encompass broader restrictions, such as enforcing a general nighttime lockdown, thereby expanding the definition of curfew.

   Quote:
   "When hearth fires were no longer regulated, many towns had other rules that called for ringing an evening bell, including one that required people to be off streets by a given time, a development that granted curfew permission to go out and about with a broader meaning with your word of the day." [00:42]

Conclusion

The episode adeptly bridges the gap between the historical significance of curfew and its contemporary applications, illustrating how language evolves while retaining echoes of its origins. By unpacking both the legal and familial contexts of the word, Merriam-Webster provides listeners with a nuanced appreciation of curfew, enriching their vocabulary and understanding of its usage.

For more definitions, wordplay, and trending word lookups, visit Merriam-Webster.com.