Was tar and feather originally a prank?

Tar and feathering was not originally a prank; it was a form of public humiliation and punishment used primarily in the 18th and 19th centuries. This practice involved covering a person in hot tar and then feathers, often as a means of enforcing social norms or expressing dissent, particularly against political figures or authority. While it may have had elements of mockery, its intent was serious, aiming to shame or intimidate the victim rather than entertain.