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prettygoodwordbrank - n., a cage for the head with a bit to restraining the tongue.
Often used in the plural, branks (much like pants for a single item). Used in Scotland and possibly later England to punish women, particularly scolds (thus its other name, scold's bridle). Some had spikes on the bit, for added squick. Its use started in the latter half of the 16th century, and while it was known in the early 19th century, I'm not finding when its use stopped as a form of punishment (as opposed to use in BDSM). Origin of the name is unknown but it's probably Germanic -- see Dutch prang, a fetter, and German pranger, pillory.
---L.
Often used in the plural, branks (much like pants for a single item). Used in Scotland and possibly later England to punish women, particularly scolds (thus its other name, scold's bridle). Some had spikes on the bit, for added squick. Its use started in the latter half of the 16th century, and while it was known in the early 19th century, I'm not finding when its use stopped as a form of punishment (as opposed to use in BDSM). Origin of the name is unknown but it's probably Germanic -- see Dutch prang, a fetter, and German pranger, pillory.
---L.
