Scold's bridle

A scold's bridle is a device that was used a long time ago to punish women who talked too much or said things that were not nice. It was like a mask that fits over the woman's head and covers her mouth. There were some small holes in the metal that allowed the woman to breathe, but they couldn't talk or make loud noises. People believed that using a scold's bridle would stop women from gossiping or saying mean things. But it was not a nice punishment and it is not used anymore.