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whip (v.)

mid-13c., wippen "flap violently," not in Old English, of uncertain origin, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *wipjan "to move back and forth" (source also of Danish vippe "to raise with a swipe," Middle Dutch, Dutch wippen "to swing," Old High German wipf "swing, impetus"), from PIE root *weip- "to turn, vacillate, tremble." "The senses of both [noun and verb] no doubt represent several independent adoptions or formations" [OED]. The cookery sense is from 1670s. Related: Whipped; whipping. Whip snake first recorded 1774, so called for its shape.

whip (n.)

"instrument for flagellating," early 14c., from whip (v.) and perhaps in part from Middle Low German wippe "quick movement." In parliamentary use from 1850 (the verb in this sense is recorded from 1742), from the sense in fox-hunting. The parliamentary whip's duty originally was to ensure the attendance of party members on important occasions.

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Definitions of whip from WordNet
1
whip (v.)
beat severely with a whip or rod;
Synonyms: flog / welt / lather / lash / slash / strap / trounce
whip (v.)
defeat thoroughly;
Synonyms: worst / pip / mop up / rack up
whip (v.)
thrash about flexibly in the manner of a whiplash;
The tall grass whipped in the wind
whip (v.)
strike as if by whipping;
The curtain whipped her face
Synonyms: lash
whip (v.)
whip with or as if with a wire whisk;
Synonyms: whisk
whip (v.)
subject to harsh criticism;
Synonyms: blister / scald
2
whip (n.)
an instrument with a handle and a flexible lash that is used for whipping;
whip (n.)
a legislator appointed by the party to enforce discipline;
Synonyms: party whip
whip (n.)
a dessert made of sugar and stiffly beaten egg whites or cream and usually flavored with fruit;
whip (n.)
(golf) the flexibility of the shaft of a golf club;
whip (n.)
a quick blow delivered with a whip or whiplike object;
the whip raised a red welt
Synonyms: lash / whiplash
From wordnet.princeton.edu