1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Scold

SCOLD, one who scolds, i.e. chides, finds fault with or rebukes with violence or persistence or vituperation. It is usually a term applied to women, and a “ common scold ” (in Low Lat. communes rixatrix) was indictable in England at common law as a public nuisance, special instruments of punishment being devised in the “branks” or “scold’s bridle,” and the “cucking stool.” The word is apparently an adaptation of the Norse skald, skald or scald, a poet, and according to the New English Dictionary the intermediate meaning through which the sense develops is “ libeller ” or “lampooner.” Skeat derives from Du. schold, schellen, and takes the word as originally meaning a loud talker, cf. Icel. skjalla, to clash, Ger. schallen. The Norse word is also to be connected in this case, the “ skald ” being one who talks loudly.