Whip snake

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]