CLAW v.
To rail at; to scold. [Obs.] In the aforesaid preamble, the king fairly claweth the great monasteries, wherein, saith he, religion, thanks be to God, is right well kept and observed; though he claweth them soon after in another acceptation. T. Fuller Claw me, claw thee, stand by me and I will stand by you; -- an old pr…
CUCKING STOOL n.
A kind of chair formerly used for punishing scolds, and also dishonest tradesmen, by fastening them in it, usually in front of their doors, to be pelted and hooted at by the mob, but sometimes to be taken to the water and ducked; -- called also a castigatory, a tumbrel, and a trebuchet; and often, but not so correctly,…
DRESSING n.
Castigation; scolding; -- often with down. [Colloq.] Dressing case, a case of toilet utensils. -- Dressing forceps, a variety of forceps, shaped like a pair of scissors, used in dressing wounds. -- Dressing gown, a light gown, such as is used by a person while dressing; a study gown. -- Dressing room, an apartment a…
DUCKING n.
, from Duck, v. t. & i. Ducking stool, a stool or chair in which common scolds were formerly tied, and plunged into water, as a punishment. See Cucking stool. The practice of ducking began in the latter part of the 15th century, and prevailed until the early part of the 18th, and occasionally as late as the 19th centur…