Stocks (also known as a stockade or pillory) are a public humiliation/torture device usually set up in the town square to punish the village idiot's latest shenanigans.

Stocks consist of a pair of wooden planks mounted on a stake in the ground, just tall enough to match the height of a kneeling or bent over person. The planks are hinged at one end and have a locking hasp on the other. A trio of holes just large enough to accommodate the wrists and neck (but not the head and hands) are cut into them. A criminal (usually a public nuisance) is placed in the device for punishment. This can range from being pelted with garbage or public use (historically the former).

When occupied, the character is through an object, so tag it with through_wall.

Stocks are normally fastened to the ground, and hold one wrist on each side of the head. For a similar device that may be portable and holds both wrists in front of the person, see shrew's fiddle. A similar device with wrists on sides, see yoke_(restraint).

See also

• breeding_stand

Related tags:

• cock_stocks
• shrew's_fiddle
• yoke_(restraint)