- whip (v.)
- mid-13c., wippen "flap violently," from P.Gmc. *wipp- (cf. Dan. vippe "to raise with a swipe," M.Du., Du. wippen "to swing," O.H.G. wipf "swing, impetus"), from PIE *wib- "move quickly." The noun is attested from early 14c. In parliamentary use from 1850 (the v3rb 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. The cookery sense is from 1670s. Whipping boy first recorded 1640s; whipping block is from c.1877. Whip-saw is attested from 1530s; whip snake first recorded 1774.