The cat o'nine tails is a brutal tool that has been used for centuries in the punishment of criminals, prisoners and sailors. This whip-like instrument gained its name due to its nine individual lashes, each tipped with a knot or ball, which was designed to cause maximum pain and trauma to its recipient. Although the cat o'nine tails is the most commonly used term for this instrument, there are several other synonyms that have been used to describe it throughout history, including the flapper, the cat, the scourge, the knout, and the lashes. Regardless of what it is called, the cat o'nine tails remains a symbol of brutality and cruelty.
