At Brought to Life.

A Scolds bridle is a fearsome looking mask which fits tightly on to the head. A scold was defined as a rude, clamorous woman. The bridle was used as a punishment for women considered to be spending too much time gossiping or quarrelling. Time spent in the bridle was normally allocated as a punishment by a local magistrate.

BoingBoing noted:

When Glenn Beck pines for the good old days, this is probably the kind of thing he’s talking about.

It is period for colgaffneyis :-)>