skimmington

1 definition found

skimmington - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Skimmington \Skim"ming*ton\, n. [Etymol. uncertain. Perhaps the
     name of some notorius scold.]
     A word employed in the phrase, To ride Skimmington; that is
     to ride on a horse with a woman, but behind her, facing
     backward, carrying a distaff, and accompanied by a procession
     of jeering neighbors making mock music; a cavalcade in
     ridicule of a henpecked man. The custom was in vogue in parts
     of England.
     [1913 Webster]