Cat-o'-nine-tails (Noun)
Meaning
A whip with nine knotted cords; "British sailors feared the cat".
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The captain of the ship cracked the cat-o'-nine-tails across the sailor's back as punishment for disobedience.
- British sailors feared the cat, a brutal instrument of discipline used by their commanding officers.
- The museum exhibit featured a replica of a cat-o'-nine-tails, a reminder of the harsh conditions on 18th-century naval vessels.
- In the historical drama, the character of the ruthless captain wielded a cat-o'-nine-tails to maintain order among his crew.
- The cat-o'-nine-tails was a feared symbol of authority on the high seas, used to punish even the slightest infractions.