Cat-o’-nine-tails

Until 1881, an authorized instrument of punishment in the British Navy, composed of nine pieces of chord about half a yard long fixed upon a piece of thick rope for a handle. Each length of chord had three knots at close intervals near the striking end. Sailors were flogged with the cay on the bare back for transgressing “The Articles of War” (the rules of the service). A “thieves cat” had larger and harder knots than usual and was used only for punishing thieves.