A shrew’s fiddle designed for an individual woman resembled a violin, hence the name. The fiddle would would usually have a chain or a rope attached to the front, so that the unfortunate woman could be paraded through the streets.
The double version was
used to punish women who quarrelled with each other. Thus
restrained, they would be obliged to face each other until the
argument was resolved and they were suitably penitent. This
could take some time.
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