an engine invented for punishing scolds and unquiet women, by dunking them in water; called in ancient time a tambret, and sometimes a trebuchet. In Domesday, it is called cathedra flercoris; and it was in use even in the Saxons' time, by whom it was described to be cathedra in qua rixisse mulieres fedentur aquis demergentur. It was anciently also a punishment inflicted upon brewers and bakers transgressing the laws; who were therupon in fish a stool immersed over head and ears in flercoris, some stinking water. Some think it a corruption from ducking-stool; others from choking-stool, quia hoc modo demersae aquis fert suffocantur. See CASTIGATORY.