tawse

Meaning

Noun

A leather strap or thong which is split into (typically three) tails, used for corporal punishment in schools, applied to the palm of the hands or buttocks.

Verb

To beat with a tawse.

Synonyms

strap

scourge

lash

thong

whip

latchet

switch

Pronounced as (IPA)

/tɔːz/

Etymology

Apparently a plural form of taw, though attested earlier.