The cat o' nine tails, commonly shortened to the cat, is a type of multi-tailed whip or flail. It originated as an implement for physical punishment, particularly in the Royal Navy and British Army, and as a judicial punishment in Britain and some other countries.

Frequently used was the cat-o’-nine-tails, a cruel whipping contraption whose lashes were often tipped with metal or barbs; its use was finally abolished by the New York State legislature in 1848. In addition, while Lynds was warden, inmates were expected to refrain from making noise, which included talking.

May 10, 2017 · The noun cat-o’-nine-tails denotes a rope whip with nine knotted cords, formerly used, especially at sea, to flog offenders. This instrument of punishment was authorised in the British navy and army until 1881—cf. also to run the gauntlet.

The cat o' nine tails is a type of multi-tailed whip. Unlike many other whips, it's was chiefly intended for use on humans and not to facilitate the handling of livestock or other animals.

One of the most common forms of convict punishment was flogging (whipping) with a ‘cat-o’-nine-tails’, a whip named for the way it scratched the skin like the claws of a cat. Made up of nine lengths of knotted cord attached to a handle, it would lash the back of the offender, tearing the skin and causing intense pain.

Feb 26, 2025 · The Cat o’ Nine Tails emerged in the 17th century as a tool of corporal punishment, primarily within the British Royal Navy. Its design was deceptively simple: nine thongs (or “tails”) attached to a handle, each tipped with knots to maximize pain and tissue damage. The name itself is a grim play on words, likening the whip to a cat’s claws.