What is a Knout

Russian flogging whip
A knout /ˈnaʊt/ is a heavy scourge-like multiple whip, usually made of a bunch of rawhide thongs attached to a long handle, sometimes with metal wire or hooks incorporated.

The English word stems from a spelling-pronunciation of a French transliteration of the Russian word кнут (knut), which simply means "whip".

Read more...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knout