Shrew's fiddle
Early modern form of public punishment From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Early modern form of public punishment From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A shrew's fiddle or neck violin is a variation of the yoke, pillory, or rigid irons whereby the wrists are locked in front of the bound person by a hinged board, or steel bar. It was originally used in the Middle Ages as a way of punishing those who were caught bickering or fighting.[1]
The shrew's fiddle was used in medieval Germany and Austria, where it was known as a Halsgeige, meaning "neck viola"[1] or "neck violin".[2] It was originally made out of two pieces of wood fitted with a hinge and a lock at the front. The shrew's fiddle had three holes: one was a large hole for the neck, and the other two were smaller holes which fastened the wrists in front of the face.[1]
A bell was sometimes attached to this portable pillory, to alert townspeople that the victim was approaching so that they might be mocked and otherwise humiliated. Another version was a "double fiddle," by which two people could be attached together face-to-face, forcing them to talk to each other. They were not released until the argument had been resolved.[3]
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