Whip, n. [OE. whippe. See Whip, v. t.]
1. An instrument or driving horses or other animals, or for correction, consisting usually of a lash attached to a handle, or of a handle and lash so combined as to form a flexible rod. “ whip's lash.” Chaucer.
In his right hand he holds a whip, with which he is supposed to drive the horses of the sun. Addison.
2. A coachman; a driver of a carriage; as, a good whip. Beaconsfield.
3. (Mach.) (a) One of the arms or frames of a windmill, on which the sails are spread. (b) The length of the arm reckoned from the shaft.
4. (Naut.) (a) A small tackle with a single rope, used to hoist light bodies. (b) The long pennant. See Pennant (a)
5. A huntsman who whips in the hounds; whipper-in.
6. (Eng. Politics) (a) A person (as a member of Parliament) appointed to enforce party discipline, and secure the attendance of the members of a Parliament party at any important session, especially when their votes are needed. (b) A call made upon members of a Parliament party to be in their places at a given time, as when a vote is to be taken.
Whip and spur, with the utmost haste. — Whip crane, orWhip purchase, a simple form of crane having a small drum from which the load is suspended, turned by pulling on a rope wound around larger drum on the same axle. — Whip gin. See Gin block, under 5th Gin. — Whip grafting. See under Grafting. — Whip hand, the hand with which the whip is used; hence, advantage; mastery; as, to have or get the whip hand of a person. Dryden. — Whip ray(Zoöl.), the European eagle ray. See under Ray. — Whip roll(Weaving), a roll or bar, behind the reeds in a loom, on which the warp threads rest. — Whip scorpion(Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of arachnids belonging to Thelyphonus and allied genera. They somewhat resemble true scorpions, but have a long, slender bristle, or lashlike organ, at the end of the body, instead of a sting. — Whip snake(Zoöl.), any one of various species of slender snakes. Specifically: (a) A bright green South American tree snake (Philodryas viridissimus) having a long and slender body. It is not venomous. Called also emerald whip snake. (b) The coachwhip snake.