Whip hand

Whip hand
Whip Whip, n. [OE. whippe. See {Whip}, v. t.] [1913 Webster] 1. An instrument or driving horses or other animals, or for correction, consisting usually of a lash attached to a handle, or of a handle and lash so combined as to form a flexible rod. ``[A] whip's lash.'' --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

In his right hand he holds a whip, with which he is supposed to drive the horses of the sun. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

2. A coachman; a driver of a carriage; as, a good whip. --Beaconsfield. [1913 Webster]

3. (Mach.) (a) One of the arms or frames of a windmill, on which the sails are spread. (b) The length of the arm reckoned from the shaft. [1913 Webster]

4. (Naut.) (a) A small tackle with a single rope, used to hoist light bodies. (b) The long pennant. See {Pennant} (a) [1913 Webster]

5. A huntsman who whips in the hounds; whipper-in. [1913 Webster]

6. (Eng. Politics) (a) A person (as a member of Parliament) appointed to enforce party discipline, and secure the attendance of the members of a Parliament party at any important session, especially when their votes are needed. (b) A call made upon members of a Parliament party to be in their places at a given time, as when a vote is to be taken. [1913 Webster]

7. A whipping motion; a thrashing about; as, the whip of a tense rope or wire which has suddenly parted; also, the quality of being whiplike or flexible; flexibility; suppleness, as of the shaft of a golf club. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

8. (Mech.) Any of various pieces that operate with a quick vibratory motion, as a spring in certain electrical devices for making a circuit, or a rocking certain piano actions. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

{Whip and spur}, with the utmost haste.

{Whip crane}, or {Whip purchase}, a simple form of crane having a small drum from which the load is suspended, turned by pulling on a rope wound around larger drum on the same axle.

{Whip gin}. See {Gin block}, under 5th {Gin}.

{Whip grafting}. See under {Grafting}.

{Whip hand}, the hand with which the whip is used; hence, advantage; mastery; as, to have or get the whip hand of a person. --Dryden.

{Whip ray} (Zo["o]l.), the European eagle ray. See under {Ray}.

{Whip roll} (Weaving), a roll or bar, behind the reeds in a loom, on which the warp threads rest.

{Whip scorpion} (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of arachnids belonging to {Thelyphonus} and allied genera. They somewhat resemble true scorpions, but have a long, slender bristle, or lashlike organ, at the end of the body, instead of a sting.

{Whip snake} (Zo["o]l.), any one of various species of slender snakes. Specifically: (a) A bright green South American tree snake ({Philodryas viridissimus}) having a long and slender body. It is not venomous. Called also {emerald whip snake}. (b) The coachwhip snake. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • whip hand — n. 1. the hand in which a driver holds a whip 2. the position of advantage or control …   English World dictionary

  • whip hand — noun position of advantage and control (Freq. 1) • Syn: ↑upper hand • Hypernyms: ↑superiority, ↑favorable position, ↑favourable position * * * noun 1 …   Useful english dictionary

  • whip\ hand — • upper hand • whip hand noun Controlling power; advantage. In the third round the champion got the upper hand over his opponent and knocked him out. The cowboy trained the wild horse so that he finally got the whip hand and tamed the horse …   Словарь американских идиом

  • whip hand — /ˈwɪp hænd/ (say wip hand) noun 1. the hand that holds the whip when driving or riding horses. 2. the position of control, or the advantage. –phrase 3. have (or hold) the whip hand, Colloquial to be in a commanding position …  

  • Whip Hand — Infobox Book | name = Whip Hand image caption = The cover of 1st edition author = Dick Francis illustrator = cover artist = country = United Kingdom language = English series = Sid Halley series genre = crime novel publisher = Michael Joseph pub… …   Wikipedia

  • whip hand — 1. the hand that holds the whip, in driving. 2. an advantageous or controlling position: She had the whip hand throughout the debate. [1670 80] * * * …   Universalium

  • whip hand — n. control to get; have the whip hand over * * * [ wɪphænd] have the whip hand over [ control ] to get …   Combinatory dictionary

  • whip hand — hand that strikes, hand that beats; control …   English contemporary dictionary

  • whip hand — noun Date: 1680 1. positive control ; advantage 2. the hand holding the whip in driving …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • whip hand — See: UPPER HAND …   Dictionary of American idioms

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