Hypertext Webster Gateway: "tumbrel"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Tumbrel \Tum"brel\, Tumbril \Tum"bril\, n. [OF. tomberel, F.
tombereau, fr. tomber to fall, to tumble; of Teutonic origin.
Cf. {Tumble}.]
1. A cucking stool for the punishment of scolds.
2. A rough cart. --Tusser. --Tatler.
3. (Mil.) A cart or carriage with two wheels, which
accompanies troops or artillery, to convey the tools of
pioneers, cartridges, and the like.
4. A kind of basket or cage of osiers, willows, or the like,
to hold hay and other food for sheep. [Eng.]
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Cucking stool \Cuck"ing stool`\ (k?k"?ng st??l`). [Cf. AS.
scealfingst[=o]l, a word of similar meaning, allied to
scealfor a diver, mergus avis; or possibly from F. coquine a
hussy, slut, jade, f. of coquin, OE. cokin, a rascal; or cf.
Icel. k?ka to dung, k?kr dung, the name being given as to a
disgracing or infamous punishment.]
A kind of chair formerly used for punishing scolds, and also
dishonest tradesmen, by fastening them in it, usually in
front of their doors, to be pelted and hooted at by the mob,
but sometimes to be taken to the water and ducked; -- called
also a {castigatory}, a {tumbrel}, and a {trebuchet}; and
often, but not so correctly, a {ducking stool}. --Sir. W.
Scott.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
tumbrel
n : a farm dumpcart for carrying dung; carts of this type were
used to carry prisoners to the guillotine during the
French Revolution [syn: {tumbril}]
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