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Cat-o'-nine-tails for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: ,katə'naɪn,teɪlz

What does Cat-o'-nine-tails really mean?

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Alright, so "Cat-o'-nine-tails" is a pretty interesting word. It's not just one of those regular words you hear every day. It actually refers to a type of whip that has nine separate strands at the end, kind of like the tail of a cat. But don't worry, this doesn't have anything to do with real cats at all!
The "Cat-o'-nine-tails" was a really old punishment that was used in the past, like in the olden days. It was mostly used in the navy and on ships as a way to punish sailors who misbehaved. So, it was like a way to discipline people who did something wrong.
When you hear the word "Cat-o'-nine-tails," you might think it sounds pretty scary, and that's understandable. It was definitely not a nice thing to have happen to you. It would have been really painful. Can you imagine getting hit by a whip with nine tails? Ouch! It was meant to be a really tough punishment to make sure people didn't do anything bad.
So, in simple words, "Cat-o'-nine-tails" is a type of whip with nine tails, and it was used in the past as a way to punish people, especially sailors. It's not a very nice thing, but it's interesting to learn about how people used to do things in the past.

Revised and Fact checked by Stephanie Wilson on 2023-11-13 20:30:26

Cat-o'-nine-tails In a sentece

Learn how to use Cat-o'-nine-tails inside a sentece

  • The pirate used a cat-o'-nine-tails to whip the crew for disobeying orders.
  • In the past, the cat-o'-nine-tails was used as a form of punishment on ships.
  • The cat-o'-nine-tails has nine separate tails made of rope or leather.
  • The cat-o'-nine-tails was a feared tool of discipline in the British navy.
  • The captain ordered the use of the cat-o'-nine-tails to discipline the crew members who were caught stealing.

Cat-o'-nine-tails Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

cat

Cat-o'-nine-tails Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.