DUCKING, a sort of marine punishment, inflicted by the French, on those who have been convicted of desertion, blasphemy, or exciting sedition. It is performed as follows: The criminal is placed astride of a short thick batten, fastened to the end of a rope, which passes through a block hanging at one of the yard-arm. Thus fixed, he is hoisted suddenly up to the yard, and the rope being slackened at once, he is plunged into the sea. This chastisement is repeated several times conformable to the purport of the sentence pronounced against the culprit, who has at that time
several cannon-shot fastened to his feet during the punishment; which is rendered public by the firing of a gun, to advertise the other ships of the fleet thereof, that their crews may become spectators.