flagellant

pronunciation

How to pronounce flagellant in British English: UK ['flædʒɪlənt]word uk audio image

How to pronounce flagellant in American English: US ['flædʒələnt] word us audio image

  • Noun:
    a person who is whipped or whips himself for sexual gratification
    a person who whips himself as a religious penance

Word Origin

flagellant (n.)
late 16c., "one who whips or scourges himself for religious discipline," from Latin flagellantem (nominative flagellans), present participle of flagellare "to scourge, lash" (see flagellum). There were notable outbreaks of it in 1260 and 1340s. As an adjective, "given to flagellation," 1880.