One of the old standing and oft-repeated charges urged with great pertinacity against the police of this city in olden times, was that of "stool-pigeoning." As this term may not be familiar to our readers, we will briefly explain it. "Stool-pigeoning" is for an officer to arrest a party of doubtful or perhaps decidedly bad reputation on suspicion, and making him or her give up money or valuables to obtain liberty, when the officer would set the party free, and nothing would be heard by the public or any one else of the arrest, or anything else connected with it.--N. Y. Courier and Enquirer.
, ducking-stool a stool placed over a river in which scolding women are seated and ducked. North. ...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose