Cas·ti·ga·to·ry, n. An instrument formerly used to punish and correct arrant scolds; -- called also a ducking stool, or trebucket.

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 Cuck·ing stool  A kind of chair formerly used for punishing scolds, and also dishonest tradesmen, by fastening them in it, usually in front of their doors, to be pelted and hooted at by the mob, but sometimes to be taken to the water and ducked; -- called also a castigatory, a tumbrel, and a trebuchet; and often, but not so correctly, a ducking stool.

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 Duck·ing, n. & a., from Duck, v. t. & i.
 Ducking stool, a stool or chair in which common scolds were formerly tied, and plunged into water, as a punishment. See Cucking stool.  The practice of ducking began in the latter part of the 15th century, and prevailed until the early part of the 18th, and occasionally as late as the 19th century. --Blackstone. Chambers.

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 ducking stool
      n : an instrument of punishment consisting of a chair in which
          offenders were ducked in water [syn: cucking stool]