brank

noun /ˈbɹæŋk/

1. A metal bridle formerly used as a torture device to hold the head of a scold and restrain the tongue.

2. A sort of bridle with wooden side pieces.

   obsolete

   Your armour gude ye mauna shaw, / Nor yet appear like men o' weir; / As country lads be a' array'd, / Wi' branks and brecham on each mare.

Where it comes from

Compare Scottish Gaelic brangus, brangas (“a sort of pillory”), Irish brancas (“halter”), or Dutch pranger (“fetter”).

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry brank (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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