Common Scold

One who, by the practice of frequent scolding, disturbs the neighborhood. Bish. Crim. Law, § 147. The offense of being a common scold is cognizable at common law. It is a particular form of nuisance, and was punishable by the ducking stool at common law, in place of which punishment fine and imprisonment are substituted in the United States. 12 Serg. & R. (Pa.) 220; 3 Cranch, C. C. (U. S.) 620. See 1 Term R. 748; 6 Mod. 11; 4 Rog. (N. Y.) 90; 1 Russ. Crimes, 302; Rose. Crim. Ev. 665.

One who, by the practice of frequent scolding, disturbs the neighborhood. Bish. Crim. Law § 147. The offence of being a common scold is cognizable at common law. It is a particular form of nuisance, and was punishable by the ducking-stool at common law, in place of which punishment fine and imprisonment are substituted in the United States; Whart. Cr. L. 1442; James v. Com., 12 S. & R. (Pa.) 220. See 1 Term 748; 6 Mod. 11; 4 Rog. 90; 1 Russ. Cr. 302; Roscoe, Cr. Ev., Sth ed. 824; Baker v. State, 53 N. J. L. 45, 20 Atl. 858.

One who, by the practice of frequent scolding, disturbs the neighborhood. Bish. Crim. Law, § 147. A quarrelsome, brawling, vituperative person. U. S. v. Royall, 27 Fed. Cas. 907; Com. v. Mohn. 52 Pa. 243, 91 Am. Dec. 153; Baker v. State, 53 N. J. Law, 45, 20 AU. 858.

Defined under Scold in Black's Law Dictionary.

One who, by the practice of frequent scolding, disturbs the neighborhood. Bish. Crim. Law, § 147. A quarrelsome, brawling, vituperative person,

[L. Lat. communis rixatrix."] A quarrelsome woman, whose conduct is a public nuisance to her neighborhood. 4 BL Com, 168. In England, common scolds may be indicted, and were formerly punishable by being placed in the trebucket, castigatory, or cucking stool, (q. V.) Id, ibid, 169. In American law common scolds are nuisances, and may be punished as such. Wharton's Am. Crim. Law, 605.