flagellation
Self-inflicted lash wounds
Flagellation is the act of whipping or flogging, whether as punishment, religious discipline, or sexual practice.
Some religious traditions have used self-flagellation as penance or spiritual purification.
In BDSM contexts, flagellation is a form of erotic pain play.
The word also appears in biology for the whip-like motion of flagella—hair-like structures that propel certain cells.
Repeated striking blows
- floggingBeating as punishment
- scourgingWhipping as punishment
- lashingBeating or binding
- beatingRepeated striking or pulsing
corporal · cane · birch · cat-o'-nine-tails · knout · discipline · chastisement · correction
Self-mortification for wrongdoing
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
- asceticismSevere self-denial practice
- self-mortificationVoluntary bodily punishment for penance
- atonementCompensation for wrongdoing
penitent · procession · Opus Dei · devotion · pilgrimage · repentance · purification · expiation
whipping
Repeated striking blows
beating · corporal · cane · birch · cat-o'-nine-tails · knout · discipline · chastisement · correction · penalty
penance
Self-mortification for wrongdoing
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
- asceticismSevere self-denial practice
- self-mortificationVoluntary bodily punishment for penance
atonement · penitent · procession · Opus Dei · devotion · pilgrimage · repentance · purification · expiation · sacrifice
BDSM
Erotic power dynamics
- dominatrixFemale BDSM leader
- submissionYielding to another's will
- floggerMulti-lashed striking instrument
paddle · crop · whip · dungeon · safeword · spanking · masochism · kink · leather · bondage
- medieval lifechivalry, royal courts, jousting, knighthood, falconry
- biological movementlocomotion, crawling, walking, running, swimming
- medieval churchabbeys, abbey, abbot, abbots, abbess
- Medieval Ritesknighting, dubbing, homage, fealty, investiture
- Passioncrown of thorns, Good Friday, Gethsemane, scourging, nails
- Shia IslamAli, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Hussein, Hussain, imam
flagellationcaress
Gentle loving touch
gentle touch · massage · stroking · healing · soothing
flagellationindulgence
Yielding to desire
self-indulgence · hedonism · self-gratification · reward · pampering
flagellationpraise
Expression of approval
reward · commendation · positive reinforcement · encouragement · admonishment