knout

1 of 2

noun

ˈnau̇t 

sometimes

ˈnüt 

plural knouts

: a flogging whip with a lash of leather thongs twisted with wire used (as in czarist Russia) for punishing criminals

knout

2 of 2

verb

knouted; knouting; knouts

transitive verb

: to strike with a knout : to punish by whipping

Even when he is happy, David Tell looks like a minor figure in one of those Russian novels where someone is found hanged in the orchard around about page 632 and the serfs are knouted every couple of chapters.

—Michael Kelly

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Russian knut, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse knūtr knot; akin to Old English cnotta

First Known Use

Noun

1716, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1768, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

knout

noun

ˈnau̇t  ˈnüt 

: a whip for beating criminals as punishment