Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

cangue

Noun
/kæŋɡ/
Definition
A type of wooden collar or stock used as a punishment device in ancient Chinese law.
Examples
  • In ancient China, a thief could be punished with a cangue as a form of public shaming.
  • The cangue served as a warning to others against committing crimes.
  • After being sentenced, the criminal was made to wear the cangue in the village square.
Meaning
It refers to a wooden framework that was placed around a person’s neck, restricting their movement and subjecting them to public humiliation.
Synonyms
  • Stock
  • Gibbet
  • Pillory