Whip used on ship (3,1,4,5)

I believe the answer is:

cat o nine tails

(Other definitions for cat o nine tails that I've seen before include "Whip" , "Mariner's punishment" , "Means of punishing" , "causing ratings to suffer" , "Big switch for Hornblower" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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