Brank or Scold's bridle

Brank or scold's bridle, from Morley, Leeds. The iron frame is shaped to fit a woman's head, and to the front there is attached a piece of iron, roughed with a file, which was placed over the tongue to silence the wearer. On application to the Justice of the Peace a nagging or foul-mouthed person (man or woman) could be compelled to wear the brank until such time as he or she had learned to "curb" their tongue. It was used against slander, obscene language, scolding and "too open or free speech".