Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

cucking-stool

Noun

/ˈkʌkɪŋ stuːl/

Definition

A cucking-stool is a type of punishment device used in the past, primarily for those accused of being scolds or gossipers.

Examples

In medieval times, the cucking-stool was a common sight in villages for dealing with unruly women.
The use of the cucking-stool has long been abandoned, seen as a cruel and unjust form of punishment.

Meaning

The term refers to a device that consisted of a chair or stool which was used to publicly humiliate individuals, particularly women, by dunking them in water as a form of punishment.