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The ‘Scold’s Bridle’, also referred to as ‘The Gossip’s Bridle’, was a disciplinary tool employed both formally and informally in England. It was primarily used to regulate women who were perceived to be gossiping excessively or speaking out of turn. The device’s name aptly reflects its function - to restrain women whose speech was deemed too assertive or disruptive, especially towards their husbands. This was a reflection of the societal anxieties of the time, which feared that such outspoken behavior could destabilize the existing gender hierarchies within communities. The use of the ‘Scold’s Bridle’ was not just a form of punishment, but also a public humiliation. The woman would often be paraded around town wearing the bridle, serving as a warning to others about the consequences of challenging societal norms.