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cat-o'-nine-tails

cat-o'-nine-tails
C c

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [kat-uh-nahyn-teylz]
    • /ˌkæt əˈnaɪnˌteɪlz/
    • /kæt ˈəʊ naɪn teɪlz/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [kat-uh-nahyn-teylz]
    • /ˌkæt əˈnaɪnˌteɪlz/

Definitions of cat-o'-nine-tails word

  • noun cat-o'-nine-tails a rope whip consisting of nine knotted thongs, used formerly to flog prisoners 3
  • noun cat-o'-nine-tails a whip made of nine knotted cords attached to a handle, formerly used for flogging 3
  • noun plural cat-o'-nine-tails a whip, usually having nine knotted lines or cords fastened to a handle, used for flogging. 1
See all 3 definitions of cat-o'-nine-tails

Information block about the term

Origin of cat-o'-nine-tails

First appearance:

before 1685
One of the 48% oldest English words
First recorded in 1685-95; so called in allusion to a cat's scratches

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Cat-o'-nine-tails

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Full grammatical hierarchy of Cat-o'-nine-tails

cat-o'-nine-tails popularity

This term is known only to a narrow circle of people with rare knowledge. Only 7% of English native speakers know the meaning of this word.
According to our data most of word are more popular. This word is almost not used. It has a much more popular synonym.

Synonyms for cat-o'-nine-tails

noun cat-o'-nine-tails

  • cane — Cane is used to refer to the long, hollow, hard stems of plants such as bamboo. Strips of cane are often used to make furniture, and some types of cane can be crushed and processed to make sugar.
  • bat — A bat is a specially shaped piece of wood that is used for hitting the ball in baseball, softball, cricket, rounders, or table tennis.
  • prod — to poke or jab with or as if with something pointed: I prodded him with my elbow.
  • scourge — a whip or lash, especially for the infliction of punishment or torture.
  • ruler — a person who rules or governs; sovereign.
All 30 Synonyms of cat-o'-nine-tails

Antonyms for cat-o'-nine-tails

noun cat-o'-nine-tails

Just one Antonym for cat-o'-nine-tails

See also

Matching words

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