Whip
/wɪp/noun
A flexible lash or cord used to strike, drive, or control; also a person who enforces party discipline in politics.
Did you know?The exact origin of English whip is uncertain, but many scholars connect it to a Germanic sound-symbolic root imitating the quick crack of a lash, which is why the word feels as sharp as the action it names.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
hwippian
“to whip, lash, or strike with a flexible cord”
Middle English
ME
whippen
“to strike or drive with a whip”
14th Century
English
whip
“a lash or instrument for striking animals or people”
Modern English
English
whip
“a flexible lash; later, a political enforcer”