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BDSM Dictionary : Shrew.s fiddle: history
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This entry is part of the BDSM Dictionary hosted by Informed Consent.
A Shrew's fiddle is a variation of a 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 18th century as a way of punishing women who were caught bickering or fighting.
The name 'Shrew's fiddle' derives from the fact that if the device is
made from wood it can be shaped to look like a violin. It was used in
places such as Germany and Austria, where it was known as a Halsgeige,
meaning "neck viola" or "neck violin". It was originally made out of two
pieces of wood fitted with a hinge and a lock at the front. The shrew's
fiddle consisted of 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. A bell was sometimes attached to this portable pillory, to
alert townspeople that the victim was approaching so that she 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. See also
(This entry in the BDSM Dictionary incorporates text from the Shrew.s fiddle article in Wipipedia.)
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