A party official in a legislative chamber responsible for ensuring that members attend and vote in accordance with party policy; the name derives from the jargon of hunting, a whipper in. Success will depend upon the extent of party cohesiveness and discipline that can be exercised. In the UK, the term is also the title of a weekly document detailing forthcoming parliamentary business.
Whips are traditionally used for two purposes:
To produce a loud sharp sound—a "crack"—to drive or direct livestock or harnessed animals.When rapidly moved in a particular motion at the base, whips can approach and exceed 340 m/s (760mph) producing a small sonic boom described as a "crack".
Some similar devices with a strap are called "whips" and can be used to cause pain by striking humans or animals but cannot make a "crack". These may include riding crops, horse whips, and various flogging instruments. Another far less common and more modern way to make a whip that is not to be used with animals involves "weaving" metal rings together — and advisably welding the rings closed — in various rope-like chain mail patterns.
Stock whips (Stockwhips)
Stock whips or stockwhips are a type of single-tailed whip, used primarily by Australian stockmen. Its form originated in the English hunting whip, but it has since become a distinct type of whip. Unlike a bullwhip's imbedded handle, the stock whip handle is not fitted inside the thong and is usually longer. A stock whip's handle is connected to the thong by a joint typically made of a few strands of thick leather. This allows the whip to hang across a stockman's arm when not being used. Stock whips are also almost exclusively made from tanned kangaroo hide. The Tampa Bay Whip Enthusiasts give demonstrations of the Florida Cracker Cowboy in costume at the annual Heritage Village Civil War Days festival, located in Largo, Florida every year in May.
Signal whips
Signal whips or signalwhips are a type of single-tailed whip, originally designed to control dog teams. A signal whip usually measures between 3 and 4 feet in length. Signal whips and snake whips are similar. What distinguishes a signal whip from a snake whip is the absence of a "fall". A fall is a piece of leather attached to the end of the body of the whip. In a snake whip, the "cracker" attaches to the fall. In a signal whip, the cracker attaches directly to the body of the whip.
Snake whips
Snake whips or snakewhips are a type of single-tailed whip. The name snake whip is derived from the fact that this type of whip has no handle inside and so can be curled up into a small circle which resembles a coiled snake. A full sized snake whip is usually at least 4 feet in length (excluding the fall and cracker at the tip of the whip) and around one inch in diameter at the butt of the whip. The pocket snake whip is primarily a whip for occasional use, such as in loading cattle. Both of these types of snake whips are made with a leather shot bag running approximately three quarters of the length of the whip.
Blacksnakes are the traditional whips used in Montana and Wyoming. The blacksnake has a heavy shot load extending from the butt well down the thong, and the whip is flexible right to the butt, ranges in size from 6 feet to 12 feet in length.
Crops and horse whips
Dressage whips are usually 3 feet long and are used to refine the aids of the rider, not to hurt the horse. Lunge whips are usually 5 feet long and are used to direct the horse as it is 'lunged' on a circle aroung the person standing in the centre. The whip is used to guide and signal direction and pace, and is not used with force against the horse. Taking the place of the rider's leg aids, the positioning of the lunge whip in relation to the horse gives the horse signals. Driving whips are shorter than lunge whips, although longer than dressage whips, and are used specifically for driving purposes. They have a long stock, but shorter lash than a lunge whip. A hunting whip is about the same length as a crop, except its "stock" is not flexible. The hunting whip is not intended to be used on the horse, but rather the lash is there to remind the hounds to stay away from the horse's hooves, and it can also be used as a communication device to the hounds.Popular culture
The whip is occasionally portrayed in popular culture in various contexts, but the most well known and memorables whip users are Indiana Jones, the (fictional) archaeologist adventurer, who uses the whip for a variety of things, not the least of which is to swing over long chasms, Catwoman (Batman), Zorro, the (fictional) outlaw-vigilante cowboy swashbuckler of California, Hatcher's (played by Christopher Walken) henchmen, the Belmont clan, of Castlevania fame, the character Whip in The King of Fighters, and Quistis Trepe, one of the main characters from Final Fantasy VIII.
Whips as weapons have appeared in many cartoons and videogames.
In modern slang (rap) "whip" can also mean a car or the abilities of the car (ex: I'm about to whip out of here)
Buggy whip
This is a coach whip used for driving on horses harnessed to a buggy, or small open carriage. The buggy whip industry ceased to exist with the introduction of the automobile, and is cited in economics and marketing as an example of an industry ceasing to exist because its market niche, and the need for its product, disappears.
Buggy whips are not entirely gone. A resurgence of interest in carriage driving among aging baby-boomers now too old to ride horses has allowed a few die-hard buggy whip manufacturers to stay in business. At least one veterinarian has complained that a modern hazard of his work is being "bitten, scratched, and whipped" by pet iguanas. The whip snake was so called from its appearance;
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