cat-o'-nine-tails

noun

ˌka-tə-ˈnīn-ˌtālz 

plural cat-o'-nine-tails

: a whip made of usually nine knotted lines or cords fastened to a handle

Word History

Etymology

from the resemblance of its scars to the scratches of a cat

First Known Use

1665, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cat-o'-nine-tails

• ails
• ales
• bailes
• bails
• bales
• dales
• dalles
• fails
• gales
• hails
• hales
• jails

Kids Definition

cat-o'-nine-tails

noun

ˌkat-ə-ˈnīn-ˌtālz

plural cat-o'-nine-tails

: a whip made of nine knotted cords fastened to a handle