whipper-in
Americannoun
plural
whippers-in-
Fox Hunting. a professional or honorary member of a hunt staff who assists the huntsman with the hounds.
-
British. whip.
noun
Etymology
Origin of whipper-in
First recorded in 1730–40
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
According to the Senate historian, the term “whip” derives from the fox-hunting expression “whipper-in,” which refers to the member of the hunting team responsible for keeping the dogs from straying during a chase.
From Washington Post
Mania spent six months away from racing as the whipper-in for a hunt during the winter of 2011 but returned when he found he missed the excitement of daily competition.
From The Guardian
Mania briefly retired from race-riding when Howard Johnson, his principal employer, lost his licence in 2011, and spent six months working as a whipper-in for a hunt in Scotland.
From The Guardian
The whipper-in immediately climbs the tree in which the little red-brown animal still peacefully cracks its nuts, its pretty tail curled well over its head.
From Project Gutenberg
A more abominable sight does not exist than the hard-riding whipper-in, he is, for the most part, a useless, conceited lad, who will never do any good in this world or the next.
From Project Gutenberg
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.