cocking-stool

A contrivance, also called the trebucket or castigatory, formerly provided in England for the "correction" of common scolds. The word was said to have come from the Saxon language in which it signified a scolding stool. It was finally corrupted into "ducking" stool, because part of the punishment consisted in plunging the scold into water while fastened in the stool or chair. See 4 Bl Comm 168. See common scold.