A scold's bridle, sometimes called a witch's bridle, a gossip's bridle, a brank's bridle, or simply branks, [1] was an instrument of punishment, as a form of public humiliation. [2] It was an iron muzzle in an iron framework that enclosed the head (although some bridles were masks that depicted suffering).

Apr 22, 2023 · In the Medieval era, unruly women were punished by being forced to wear a Scold's Bridle, an iron device that prevented talking. Women who gossipped in the Middle Ages faced public humiliation at the hands of their husbands when they were forced to wear the Scold's Bridle for hours on end.

Jan 15, 2019 · In the 16th and 17th centuries a scold was a woman whose behaviour was considered anti-social. Whether charged with abusing authority, hitting someone, or sexual misconduct, scolds were judged to have disrupted the harmonious life of the community.

The meaning of SCOLD is to censure usually severely or angrily : rebuke. How to use scold in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Scold.

Oct 18, 2017 · A branked scold in New England, from an 1885 lithograph. It was widely believed that only through pain and suffering could a person achieve innocence after a crime was committed. The bridle (or branks) was a form of mirror punishment, which relies on …

In the common law of crime in England and Wales, a common scold was a type of public nuisance—a troublesome and angry person who broke the public peace by habitually chastising, arguing, and quarrelling with their neighbours. Most punished for scolding were women, though men could be found to be scolds.

Mar 1, 2019 · Scold’s bridle is a metal mask meant to bring upon public humiliation. It originated from Britain and spread to other European Countries and was used to punish and torture women till about the 1800s. Scold’s bridle was assigned by the local magistrate to …

The Crossword Solver found 30 answers to "Old scold to speak at length?", 5 letters crossword clue. The Crossword Solver finds answers to classic crosswords and cryptic crossword puzzles. Enter the length or pattern for better results.

Sep 17, 2024 · The oldest mention of a Scold's Bridle appears to be from the 14th century, when one of Geoffrey Chaucer's characters remarks, "would she were bolted with a Bridle," according to the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic. However, stories about Scold's Bridles don't start to surface until the 16th century. How Scold's Bridles Were Used

Oct 7, 2022 · The ‘scold’s bridle’ or ‘mask of shame’ was a concept developed in medieval Europe to punish people, particularly women, who were found guilty of gossiping, gluttony, eavesdropping or lying. They were usually made of cold, unyielding metal, …