Curfew

restriction on the right of all or certain people to remain on the streets past a certain hour

 

From Old French cuevre feu "cover the fire"

From Latin:  focus "hearth"

 

Cf. feu [Fr.], fuoco (Ital.), fuego (Span.)

Other words from the same root: foci, focal, fuel, foyer

 

From the custom in Medieval Europe of ringing a bell to indicate the time at which fires should be covered or put out to avoid burning down the city at night.

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