knout

3 definitions found

knout - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Knout \Knout\ (nout or n[=oo]t), n. [Russ. knut'; prob. of
     Scand. origin; cf. Sw. knut knot, knout, Icel. kn[=u]tr knot:
     cf. F. knout. See Knot.]
     A kind of whip for flogging criminals, formerly much used in
     Russia. The lash is a tapering bundle of leather thongs
     twisted with wire and hardened, so that it mangles the flesh.
     [1913 Webster]

  Knout \Knout\, v. t.
     To punish with the knout. --Brougham.
     [1913 Webster]

knout - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  knout
      n 1: a whip with a lash of leather thongs twisted with wire;
           used for flogging prisoners