n. & v.
n. 1 a lash attached to a stick for urging on animals or punishing etc. 2 a a member of a political party in Parliament appointed to control its parliamentary discipline and tactics, esp. ensuring attendance and voting in debates. b Brit. the whips' written notice requesting or requiring attendance for voting at a division etc., variously underlined according to the degree of urgency (three-line whip). c (prec. by the) party discipline and instructions (asked for the Labour whip). 3 a dessert made with whipped cream etc. 4 the action of beating cream, eggs, etc., into a froth. 5 = WHIPPER-IN. 6 a rope-and-pulley hoisting apparatus.
v. (whipped, whipping) 1 tr. beat or urge on with a whip. 2 tr. beat (cream or eggs etc.) into a froth. 3 tr. & intr. take or move suddenly, unexpectedly, or rapidly (whipped away the tablecloth; whipped out a knife; whip off your coat; whipped behind the door). 4 tr. Brit. sl. steal (who's whipped my pen?). 5 tr. sl. a excel. b defeat. 6 tr. bind with spirally wound twine. 7 tr. sew with overcast stitches. whip-bird any Australian bird of the genus Psophodes with a cry like the crack of a whip. whip-crane a light derrick with tackle for hoisting. whip-graft Hort. a graft with the tongue of the scion in a slot in the stock and vice versa. whip hand 1 a hand that holds the whip (in riding etc.). 2 (usu. prec. by the) the advantage or control in any situation. whip in bring (hounds) together. whip on urge into action. whip-round esp. Brit. colloq. an informal collection of money from a group of people. whip scorpion any arachnid of the order Uropygi, with a long slender tail-like appendage, which secretes an irritating vapour. whip snake any of various long slender snakes of the family Colubridae. whip-stitch a stitch made by whipping. whip up 1 excite or stir up (feeling etc.). 2 summon (attendance). whipless adj. whiplike adj. whipper n.
[ ME (h)wippen (v.), prob. f. MLG & MDu. wippen swing, leap, dance ]