A knout is a heavy whip made up of leather thongs attached to a long handle. Some have metal hooks or wires at the end to inflict greater pain. Knouts were originally used to punish criminals and political offenders, but are most commonly used today for sex play within the BDSM community.
It’s widely believed the word knout comes from the Russian word for whip, knut. It’s thought the original knouts were developed by the Tatar people who brought them to Russia in the 15th century. However, other theories suggest knouts may have Swedish or Germanic origins. Knouting is the term for striking someone for a knout. If you have been whipped with a knout, you have been knouted.