cucking-stool
- An engine of correction for common scolds, which in the Saxon language is said to signify the scolding-stool, though now it is frequently corrupted into ducking-stool, because the judgment was that, when the woman was placed therein, she should be plunged in the water for her punishment. It was also variously called a "trebucket," "tumbrel," or "castigatory." 4 Bl.Comm. 169
Black's law dictionary. HENRY CAMPBELL BLACK, M. A.. 1990.
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Cucking stool — Cuck ing stool (k?k ?ng st??l ). [Cf. AS. scealfingst[=o]l, a word of similar meaning, allied to scealfor a diver, mergus avis; or possibly from F. coquine a hussy, slut, jade, f. of coquin, OE. cokin, a rascal; or cf. Icel. k?ka to dung, k?kr… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
cucking stool — early 13c., from cuck to void excrement, from O.N. kuka feces (the chair was sometimes in the form of a close stool). Also known as trebucket and castigatory, it was used on disorderly women and fraudulent tradesmen, either in the form of public… … Etymology dictionary
cucking stool — [kuk′iŋ] n. [ME coking stole, lit., toilet seat < ME coken < OIce kuka, to defecate: the instrument was orig. made like a toilet seat to heighten the indignity] Historical a chair to which a person was fastened and exposed to public… … English World dictionary
Cucking stool — Ducking stool at Leominster. Last used in 1809 … Wikipedia
cucking stool — /kuk ing/ a former instrument of punishment consisting of a chair in which an offender was strapped, to be mocked and pelted or ducked in water. [1175 1225; ME cucking stol, lit., defecating stool, equiv. to cucking, prp. of cukken to defecate (… … Universalium
cucking stool — cuck′ing stool [[t]ˈkʌk ɪŋ[/t]] n. an instrument of punishment consisting of a chair in which an offender was strapped, to be mocked or ducked in water • Etymology: 1175–1225; ME cucking stol lit., defecating stool … From formal English to slang
cucking stool — /ˈkʌkɪŋ stul/ (say kuking stoohl) noun a former instrument of punishment consisting of a chair in which an offender was strapped, to be jeered at and pelted by the crowd, or, sometimes, to be ducked. See ducking stool. {Middle English cuking stol … Australian English dictionary
cucking-stool — , ducking stool a stool placed over a river in which scolding women are seated and ducked. North … A glossary of provincial and local words used in England
cucking stool — noun Etymology: Middle English cucking stol, literally, defecating chair Date: 12th century a chair formerly used for punishing offenders (as dishonest tradesmen) by public exposure or ducking in water … New Collegiate Dictionary
cucking-stool — [ kʌkɪŋstu:l] noun historical a chair to which disorderly women were tied and then ducked into water or subjected to public ridicule as a punishment. Origin ME: from obs. cuck defecate (because a stool containing a chamber pot was often used) … English new terms dictionary