Drowning pit

Drowning pit in Milngavie, near Mugdock Barony Court

A drowning pit, drowning pool, murder-pool or murder hole (not to be confused with defensive murder holes) was a well or pond specifically for executing women and girls (for males the gibbet was used) under Scottish feudal laws.[1] Rivers or lochans were used if conveniently situated near to a moot hill, where the baronial court dempster would announce the death penalty. The term fossa was also used, as in the phrase furca and fossa.[2]

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  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference ld was invoked but never defined (see the help page).