Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

cat-o'-nine-tails

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.61 in modern English

Syllables
cat-o'-nine--tails
IPA
15
Scrabble Score
13
Letters
5
Syllables
9
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A scourge (multi-tail whip) having nine, often knotted, whipcords, formerly used for flogging as naval punishment.

noun

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

Example Sentences

Etymology

From cat + o' + nine + tails, cat referring to the inflicted wounds resembling the scratches of a cat. First attested in 1695.

Origin

Inflected Forms

cats-o'-nine-tails (plural) cat-o'-nine (alternative, short form)

Synonyms

cat

Questions

What does cat-o'-nine-tails mean?
A scourge (multi-tail whip) having nine, often knotted, whipcords, formerly used for flogging as naval punishment.
Where does cat-o'-nine-tails come from?
First known use: First attested in 1695.

How to pronounce cat-o'-nine-tails

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