jougs

alternative juggs · alternative joggs

1. ScotlandespeciallyhistoricalA chained iron collar once used in churches to expose sinners to public scorn.

   Also attached to the pillar were the jougs - an iron collar used to immobilise petty offenders in the same way as the pillory was used in England.

   1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 280, about Meikleour, Scotland

   1 more example

   Fornication and adultery were crimes punishable in case of confession in various ways […] standing in the jougs at the door of the kirk barefoot and in sackcloth […] Blasphemy, swearing, drunkenness, " flyting and scolding," slander, " the abuse of husbands by their wives," and other suchlike offences were punishable with exposure to public scorn in the " jougs," […] The "jougs" (from jugum, a yoke) consisted of an iron collar in two halves fastened by a clasp, and suspended by a chain about six feet from the ground, which was generally hung on the wall at the entrance gate of the Church.

   1898, William Baird, Annals of Duddingston and Portobello, pages 193–194

   Synonyms: joug

alternative juggs · alternative joggs

1. pluralplural of joug