Supplies of punitive apparatus (6)
I believe the answer is:
stocks
'supplies' is the definition.
(stocking is a kind of supplying)
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for stocks that I've seen before include "Frame for shipbuilding - form of punishment" , "Reserves and inventories" , "Amounts of goods kept by traders" , "Capital holdings often accompanied by shares" , "Fragrant flowers; shares" .)