scourging

Scourging is a form of corporal punishment in which a person is struck with a scourge, a whip or multi-thonged instrument. The term is often used to describe the action itself and the instrument, which historically could be made from leather thongs, sometimes reinforced with metal balls or knots. A common modern variant is the cat o' nine tails, a nine-tailed whip used in naval and military discipline.

Historically, scourging was employed in many civilizations as a judicial penalty, a military discipline method, and in some religious or ritual contexts. Throughout ancient and medieval Europe, scourging was used as punishment for crimes, insubordination, or as part of ritual penance. In maritime contexts, flogging was standard aboard warships and merchant vessels as a disciplinary measure for sailors and, in some cases, as punishment for minor offenses. In some religious traditions, flagellation has been used as a form of self-discipline or ritual practice, though secular authorities and many religious groups condemn coercive corporal punishment.

In modern times, the legal status varies. Most countries have abolished judicial corporal punishment in law, and many states ban it in any setting, including domestic and school environments. International human rights law generally forbids torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, and flogging may be considered a form of such treatment. Nevertheless, a small number of jurisdictions retain flogging as a legal penalty for specific crimes; the methods and conditions are often regulated by law but still controversial.

Scholarly and human rights organizations emphasize that scourging can cause physical injury and long-term trauma, and that it has questionable deterrent value.