Refine this word faster
Cucking stool
noun
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A kind of chair to which a person (such as a scold or dishonest tradesman) was fastened in order to be punished and socially humiliated, usually by being pelted and hooted at by a mob in front of their own house, but sometimes being taken to water and ducked. historical
"[…] while in the same breath the Fleming exclaimed, “Beware the cucking-stool, Dame Scant o' Grace,” while he conducted the noble youth across the court."
- 2 an instrument of punishment consisting of a chair in which offenders were ducked in water wordnet
Etymology
From about 1215. Origin uncertain. The variant ducking stool is a later (from 1597) corruption. The meaning of cuck here may be a long obsolete nursery word for feces, as reflected in Old English cac, defying sound changes as have words like Mama and Papa. The chair was once described as Latin cathedra stercoris; why, though, this punishment should have this name has not been convincingly explained.
See also for "cucking stool"
Next best steps
Mini challenge
Unscramble this word: cuckingstool