duckings
Quick underwater plunges
Duckings are instances of being plunged briefly underwater, or of lowering one's head quickly to avoid something.
The word appears in historical contexts describing punishment by dunking: The accused witches faced repeated duckings in the village pond.
It also covers evasive movements: After several duckings under low branches, we reached the clearing.
Avoiding by moving aside
- swervingTurning sharply aside
- crouchingBending low, knees bent
- loweringMoving something downward
- bendingCurving from straight
avoiding · evading · weaving · bobbing · sidestepping · flinching · reflexes · quick
Brief submersion in liquid
- plungingDescending steeply and quickly
- submergingPutting fully underwater
- immersionState of being submerged
- dippingBrief immersion action
soaking · dousing · splashing · bobbing · pushing under · head-first · water · baptizing
Legal proceedings against alleged sorcerers
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
- scoldRebuke harshly
- public humiliationDeliberate degradation before witnesses
- ordealDifficult, painful experience
colonial · confession · accusation · village · mob · spectacle · stocks · pillory
dodging
Avoiding by moving aside
bending · avoiding · evading · weaving · bobbing · sidestepping · flinching · reflexes · quick · instinctive
dunking
Brief submersion in liquid
- plungingDescending steeply and quickly
- submergingPutting fully underwater
- immersionState of being submerged
dipping · soaking · dousing · splashing · bobbing · pushing under · head-first · water · baptizing · sinking
witch trials
Legal proceedings against alleged sorcerers
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
- scoldRebuke harshly
- public humiliationDeliberate degradation before witnesses
ordeal · colonial · confession · accusation · village · mob · spectacle · stocks · pillory · sentence
duckingsrisings
Upward movements or revolts
raisings · elevations · standing up · upraisings · ascents
duckingsconfrontations
Direct hostile encounters
facings · bracings · absorptions · head-ons
- ducking outLeaving discreetly, often early
- ducking downLowering body suddenly
- ducking and divingEvasive, opportunistic behavior
- ducking stoolPunishment seat for dunking
- ducking and coveringCrouching beneath protection