whips

Noun

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.
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. A whipper-in.
   • 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...1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC
4. A 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.

   Synonyms:

   party whip, whipper-in

5. (UK, with-definite-article) A document distributed weekly to MPs by party whips informing them of upcoming votes in parliament.

See all 33 meanings of whip