an engine invented for punishing scolds and unquiet women, by ducking them in water; called in ancient times a tumbrel, and sometimes a trebucket. 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 rixosae mulieres fedentes aquis demergentur. It was anciently also a punishment inflicted upon brewers and bakers transgressing the laws; who were thereupon in such a stool immersed over head and ears in flercore, some stinking water. Some think it a corruption from ducking-stool; others from choking-stool, quia hoc modo demerse aquis fere suffocantur. See CASTIGATORY.