DUCKING and CUCKING STOOLS, chairs used for the punishment of scolds, witches and prostitutes in bygone days. The two have been confused, but are distinct. The earlier, the cucking-stool or stool of repentance, is of very ancient date, and was used by the Saxons, who called it the Scealding or Scolding Stool. Seated on this stool the woman, her head and feet bare, was publicly exposed at her door or paraded through the streets amidst the jeers of the crowd. The cucking-stool was used for