jougs

/ dʒʊɡz /

plural noun

history an iron ring, fastened by a chain to a wall, post, or tree, in which an offender was held by the neck: common in Scotland from the 16th to 18th century

Origin of jougs¹

C16: probably from French joug yoke

Jougs, joogz, n. an iron neck-ring that constituted the old Scottish pillory.

Disregarding parental authority in Scotland was frequently the cause of young folk being punished by the jougs, and in other ways.

The jougs belonging to the parish of Galashiels are preserved at Abbotsford.

At Merton, Berwickshire, the jougs may be seen at the church.

This may be safely assumed that formerly the jougs were affixed at the end of the chain.

Browse