cat-o'-nine-tails

• cat-o'-nine (uncommon short form)

From cat +‎ of +‎ nine +‎ tails; attested since 1695.

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cat-o'-nine-tails (plural cats-o'-nine-tails)

1. (nautical) A scourge (multi-tail whip) having nine, often knotted, whipcords, formerly used for flogging as naval punishment.
   • 1695, [William] Congreve, Love for Love: A Comedy. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, Act III, scene vii, page 44:

     But I do tell you one thing, if you ſhould give ſuch Language at Sea, you'd have a Cat o' Nine-tails laid croſs your Shoulders.

2. A similarly constructed leather nine-tail whip, as used in British penal colonies and certain armies.

• scourge