knout

1 of 2

noun

ˈnau̇t How to pronounce knout (audio)
sometimes
ˈnüt How to pronounce knout (audio)
plural knouts
Synonyms of knoutnext
: a flogging whip with a lash of leather thongs twisted with wire used (as in czarist Russia) for punishing criminals

knout

2 of 2

verb

knouted; knouting; knouts

transitive verb

: to strike with a knout : to punish by whipping
Even when he is happy, David Tell looks like a minor figure in one of those Russian novels where someone is found hanged in the orchard around about page 632 and the serfs are knouted every couple of chapters.—Michael Kelly

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Russian knut, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse knūtr knot; akin to Old English cnotta

First Known Use

Noun

1716, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1768, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of knout was in 1716

Dictionary Entries Near knout

knotweed spurge

knout

know

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Knout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knout. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

knout

noun
ˈnau̇t How to pronounce knout (audio) ˈnüt How to pronounce knout (audio)
: a whip for beating criminals as punishment

More from Merriam-Webster on knout

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for knout

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about knout

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