A
scold's bridle, sometimes called "branks", was a
punishment device for women, also used as a 'mild' form
of
torture.
It was an iron
muzzle or cage for the head
with an iron
curb-plate projecting into the
mouth and pressing down on top of the tongue. The
'curb-plate' was frequently studded with
spikes so that if the
tongue remained lying calmly
in place, it inflicted a minimum of pain.
