cat o' nine tails
/ˈkæt ə ˌnaɪn ˌteɪlz/
noun
- A whip with nine knotted cords, formerly used for punishment, especially on ships.
- In history books, the cat-o'-nine-tails is described as a brutal disciplinary tool.
- The museum displayed a genuine cat-o'-nine-tails from a British warship.
- Sailors in the 18th century feared the cat-o'-nine-tails.