whip

plural whips

1. A lash; a pliant, flexible instrument, such as a rod (commonly of cane or rattan) or a plaited or braided rope or thong (commonly of leather) used to create a sharp "crack" sound for directing or herding animals.

   I had to use the whip to get the sheep's attention.

   1. The same instrument used to strike a person or animal for corporal punishment or torture.

      Once he ran out of appeals, he knew he would soon feel the sting of the whip.

      Synonyms: cat, cat-o'-nine-tails, flail, knout, lash, quirt, scourge, sjambok

2. A blow administered with a whip.

   I had hardly said the word, when Kit jumped into the saddle, and gave his horse a whip and a spur — and off it cantered, as if it were in as great a hurry to be married as Kit himself.

   1832, The Atheneum, volume 31, page 493

3. hobbiesA whipper-in.

   From the far side of the wood came the long shrill screech […] which signifies that one of the whips has viewed the fox quitting the covert.

   1928, Siegfried Sassoon, Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man, Penguin, published 2013, page 27

   1 more example

   At half-past ten, Tom Moody, Sir Huddlestone Fuddlestone's huntsman, was seen trotting up the avenue, followed by the noble pack of hounds in a compact body—the rear being brought up by the two whips clad in stained scarlet frocks—light hard-featured lads on well-bred lean horses, possessing marvellous dexterity in casting the points of their long heavy whips at the thinnest part of any dog's skin who dares to straggle from the main body […]

   1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC

4. governmentA member of a political party who is in charge of enforcing the party's policies in votes.

   I was going to vote against the bill, but the party whip came to see me and made it clear I needed to vote for it.

   2 more examples

   The Conservative deputy chief whip has resigned after admitting he had “embarrassed myself and other people” following reports that he drunkenly groped two men at a private club. Chris Pincher wrote to Boris Johnson saying he was standing down after drinking too much. However, he did not address the allegations that he was reported to the whips by Conservative MPs who had witnessed his behaviour towards two men at the Carlton Club in Piccadilly.

   2022 June 30, “Tory deputy chief whip resigns after ‘drunkenly groping two men’”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 16 Aug 2022

   Therefore, welcome new Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper, a man about whom even my esteemed political journalist friends know little - apart from the fact he was once Chief Whip, a job that requires knowing about every Tory MP's misdemeanours.

   2022 November 16, Christian Wolmar, “Can Merriman use his rail knowledge to make a difference?”, in RAIL, number 970, page 44

   Synonyms: party whip, whipper-in, party whip

5. UKwith definite articlegovernmentA document distributed weekly to MPs by party whips informing them of upcoming votes in parliament.
6. UKbroadlygovernmentThe regular status of an MP within a parliamentary party, which can be revoked by the party as a disciplinary measure.

   to withdraw the whip

   2 more examples

   As a result, he was stripped of the whip on Tuesday, preventing him from voting in the fourth ballot to narrow down candidates to be the next party leader.

   2022 July 20, Heather Stewart, “Tobias Ellwood temporarily given back Tory whip to vote in leadership contest”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 06 Aug 2022

   In the letter, Hancock said he had spoken to the Conservatives’ chief whip, Simon Hart, last week, and been told the whip would be restored in time, “but that is now not necessary” – meaning he will sit as an independent until the next election.

   2022 December 7, Peter Walker, “Row grows over Matt Hancock’s announcement he is quitting as MP”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 08 Mar 2023

7. Whipped cream.

   Did you want to add some whip to your coffee, ma'am?

8. nauticalA purchase in which one block is used to gain a 2:1 mechanical advantage.
9. African-American VernacularA mode of personal motorized transportation; an automobile, all makes and models including motorcycles, excluding public transportation.

   Come on, let's take my whip so we can get there in time.

   3 more examples

   Had four bills and I bought me a car / Little red whip that I bought for my marge

   2015, Stormzy, “Shut Up” (track 15), in Gang Signs & Prayer, performed by Stormzy

   Big whip I'm underground parking

   2017, “Return of the Rucksack”, performed by Stormzy, United Kingdom

   I wanna get a whip and crash it into white-owned businesses

   2019, “Jesus Is the One (I Got Depression)” (Comedy Hip-Hop), performed by Zack Fox, United States

10. roller derbyA move in which one player transfers momentum to another.
11. A whipping motion; a thrashing about.

    I was startled by the whip of the rope when it finally snapped.

12. The quality of being whiplike or flexible; suppleness, as of the shaft of a golf club.
13. Any of various pieces that operate with a quick vibratory motion
    1. A spring in certain electrical devices for making a circuit
    2. entertainmentA wippen, a rocking component in certain piano actions.
14. historicalA coach driver; a coachman.

    Lord Carington […] led the way with his chestnuts, having a distinguished brother whip, Lord Londesborough, by his side.

    1871, Baily's Magazine of Sports & Pastimes, volume 20, page 308

present singular third person whips · participle present whipping · participle past whipped · past whipped

1. transitiveTo hit with a whip.

   The rider whipped the horse.

2. broadlytransitiveTo hit with any flexible object.

   I whipped her with a newspaper.

   1 more example

   Then Jill came in, And she did grin, To see Jack's paper plaster; Her mother whipt her, Across her knee, For laughing at Jack's disaster.

   1810, Jack and Jill, and old Dame Gill, York: J. Kendrew, page 4

3. slangtransitiveTo defeat, as in a contest or game.

   She whips me in the first game of pool, I do not even get a shot. Eight-balled from the break.

   2008, Edward Keating, The Joy of Ex: A Novel

4. transitiveTo mix in a rapid aerating fashion, especially food.

   to whip eggs or cream

5. transitiveTo urge into action or obedience.

   He whipped the department into shape.

6. transitivegovernmentTo enforce a member voting in accordance with party policy.
7. transitivenauticalTo bind the end of a rope with twine or other small stuff to prevent its unlaying: fraying or unravelling.

   1677-1683, Joseph Moxon, Mechanick exercises Its string […] is firmly whipt about with small Gut

8. transitivenauticalTo hoist or purchase by means of a whip.
9. To sew lightly; specifically, to form (a fabric) into gathers by loosely overcasting the rolled edge and drawing up the thread.

   to whip a ruffle

   1 more example

   In half-whipped muslin needles useless lie.

   [1716], [John] Gay, “(please specify the page)”, in Trivia: Or, The Art of Walking the Streets of London, London: […] Bernard Lintott, […], →OCLC

10. transitiveTo throw or kick an object at a high velocity.

    He whipped the ball at me.

    1 more example

    Composed play then saw Sam Ricketts nutmeg Ashley Cole before Taylor whipped a fine curling effort over Petr Cech's bar.

    2010 December 29, Chris Whyatt, “Chelsea 1 - 0 Bolton”, in BBC

    Synonyms: fling, hurl, bung, cast, chuck, chunk, cook, dash

11. ambitransitiveTo fish a body of water especially by making repeated casts.

    whipping its rough surface for a trout

    1858, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Adirondac

12. intransitiveTo snap back and forth like a whip.

    The pennants whipped in the wind.

13. intransitiveTo move very fast.

    The wind whipped through the valley.

    2 more examples

    Two Friends, Travelling, met a Bear upon the way; the one Whips up a Tree, and the Other Throws himself Flat upon the Ground.

    1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC

    He looked up when I came in, gave a kind of cry, and whipped upstairs into the cabinet. It was but for one minute that I saw him, but the hair stood upon my head like quills.

    1886 January 5, Robert Louis Stevenson, “The Last Night”, in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., →OCLC, page 75

    Synonyms: flail

14. transitiveTo move (something) very fast; often with up, out, etc.

    She,[…] in a hurry, whips up her Darling under her Arm.

    1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC

    1 more example

    He whips out his pocketbook every moment, and writes descriptions of everything he sees.

    1742, Horace Walpole, letter to Sir Horace Mann

15. transitiveroller derbyTo transfer momentum from one skater to another.
16. figurativelyTo lash with sarcasm, abuse, etc.

    They would whip me with their fine wits.

    c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene v]

17. To thrash; to beat out, as grain, by striking.

    to whip wheat

1. abbreviationacronymball gamesAcronym of walks plus hits per inning pitched; a statistic of the number of baserunners a pitcher has allowed per inning pitched.