whip

Etymology

From Middle English whippen, wippen (“to flap violently”), from Middle Dutch wippen (“to swing, leap, dance, oscillate”) and Middle Low German wippen (“to move quickly”), from Proto-Germanic *wipjaną (“to move back and forth”). Some similarity to Sanskrit root वेप् (vep, “shake, flourish”), Latin vibrō (“I shake”). (See Swedish vippa and Danish vippe (“to shake”)). The unetymological wh- is probably expressive of the sound of a whip; compare the same development in whisk and onomatopoeias such as whack and whoosh. The political senses are from whipper-in (“huntsman who keeps the hounds from wandering”), 18th century hunting terminology.

noun

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. (hunting) A 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
4. (politics) 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.
   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. 2022-06-30, “Tory deputy chief whip resigns after ‘drunkenly groping two men’”, in The Guardian
   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. November 16 2022, Christian Wolmar, “Can Merriman use his rail knowledge to make a difference?”, in RAIL, number 970, page 44
5. (UK politics, with definite article) A document distributed weekly to MPs by party whips informing them of upcoming votes in parliament.
6. (UK politics, by extension) The regular status of an MP within a parliamentary party, which can be revoked by the party as a disciplinary measure.
   to withdraw the whip
   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. 2022-07-20, Heather Stewart, “Tobias Ellwood temporarily given back Tory whip to vote in leadership contest”, in The Guardian
   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. 2022-12-07, Peter Walker, “Row grows over Matt Hancock’s announcement he is quitting as MP”, in The Guardian
7. Whipped cream.
   Did you want to add some whip to your coffee, ma'am?
8. (nautical) A purchase in which one block is used to gain a 2:1 mechanical advantage.
9. (African-American Vernacular, MTE) A mode of personal motorized transportation; an automobile, all makes and models including motorcycles, excluding public transportation.
   Had four bills and I bought me a car / Little red whip that I bought for my marge 2015, Stormzy (lyrics and music), “Shut Up” (track 15), in Gang Signs & Prayer, performed by Stormzy
   Big whip I'm underground parking 2017, Stormzy, Return of the Rucksack
   Come on, let's take my whip so we can get there in time.
10. (roller derby) A 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. (music) A wippen, a rocking component in certain piano actions.
14. (historical) A 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

verb

1. (transitive) To hit with a whip.
   The rider whipped the horse.
2. (transitive, by extension) To hit with any flexible object.
   I whipped her with a newspaper.
3. (transitive, slang) To 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. (transitive) To mix in a rapid aerating fashion, especially food.
   to whip eggs or cream
5. (transitive) To urge into action or obedience.
   He whipped the department into shape.
6. (transitive, politics) To enforce a member voting in accordance with party policy.
7. (transitive, nautical) To 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. (transitive, nautical) To 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
10. (transitive) To throw or kick an object at a high velocity.
    He whipped the ball at me.
    Composed play then saw Sam Ricketts nutmeg Ashley Cole before Taylor whipped a fine curling effort over Petr Cech's bar. December 29, 2010, Chris Whyatt, “Chelsea 1 - 0 Bolton”, in BBC
11. (transitive, intransitive) To fish a body of water especially by making repeated casts.
    whipping its rough surface for a trout 1858, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Adirondac
12. (intransitive) To snap back and forth like a whip.
    The pennants whipped in the wind.
13. (intransitive) To move very fast.
    The wind whipped through the valley.
14. (transitive) To move (something) very fast; often with up, out, etc.
    He whips out his pocketbook every moment, and writes descriptions of everything he sees. 1742, Horace Walpole, letter to Sir Horace Mann
15. (transitive, roller derby) To transfer momentum from one skater to another.
16. (figurative) To lash with sarcasm, abuse, etc.
17. To thrash; to beat out, as grain, by striking.
    to whip wheat