Dunking Stool

The Dunking-Stool was a common tool of torture utilised during the early witch-hunting crazes but also used as a punishment for common scolds (an archiac term for loud, aggressive women), slander, illegitimate childbirth and prostitution.

Appearance and Other Usage
The Dunking-Stool was designed much like a chair, attached to a long and sturdy pole, the victim would be strapped to the chair and repeatedly submerged in water (usually a river or other large body of water).

In the case of witches however it was common practice to abandon the use of the chair and simply tie the victim up before tossing them into the water, if they floated they were promptly burned at the stake - if they drowned they were deemed innocent.