They were used as a very humiliating form of punishment for wrongdoing.
The stocks and the pillory were used mainly as forms of punishment in the past. Offenders would be locked in the stocks or the pillory as a means of public humiliation or to endure physical discomfort as a consequence of their actions. These forms of punishment were commonly used to shame wrongdoers and deter others from committing similar acts.
"Stocks" or "pillory."
Any of the wooden restraining devices for wrists, ankles or neck can be referred to as 'stocks'. A pillory is a specific device that holds neck and wrists only. Many people refer to these as 'stocks' and that is not incorrect.
Public Humiliation
The Pillory; also called the stocks
A stock holds the arms legs and neck while a pillory holds only the neck and arms. A more drastic way of torture.
The pillory was a device used in punishment by public humiliation and often additional, sometimes lethal, physical abuse. The pillory was a device used in punishment by public humiliation and often additional, sometimes lethal, physical abuse.
A pillory: A wooden board with holes for hands and the head. Usually used for punishment.
Pillory as a form of punishment is no longer used today. It has been abolished in most countries due to its cruel and inhumane nature.
Medieval Europe as a form of public humiliation and deterrence. Offenders would be locked in the stocks or pillory in a public square, where they were exposed to ridicule and sometimes subjected to physical harm by the public. This punishment was used for various offenses, from petty crimes to more serious transgressions.
pillory
The Chinese portable pillory is a device that is used to restrain a person. It can be made from wood or metal and works by securing the hands and head of a person so they can be publicly humiliated and punished.