jougs

1. (historical, especially Scotland) A chained iron collar once used in churches to expose sinners to public scorn.Examples: "Fornication and adultery were crimes punishable in case of confession in various ways […] standing in the jougs at the door of the kirk barefoot and in sackcloth […] Blasphemy, swearing, drunkenness, " flyting and scolding," slander, " the abuse of husbands by their wives," and other suchlike offences were punishable with exposure to public scorn in the " jougs," […] The "jougs" (from jugum, a yoke) consisted of an iron collar in two halves fastened by a clasp, and suspended by a chain about six feet from the ground, which was generally hung on the wall at the entrance gate of the Church."; "Also attached to the pillar were the jougs - an iron collar used to immobilise petty offenders in the same way as the pillory was used in England."Synonyms: jougScotlandespeciallyhistorical