![]() | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (January 2024) |
![]() A bullwhip | |
Types | Whip, pastoral, hand tool |
---|---|
Used with | Livestock |
A bullwhip is a single-tailed whip, usually made of braided leather or nylon, designed as a tool for working with livestock or competition.
Bullwhips are pastoral tools, traditionally used to control livestock in open country. A bullwhip's length, flexibility, and tapered design allows it to be thrown in such a way that, toward the end of the throw, part of the whip exceeds the speed of sound—thereby creating a small sonic boom.[1] The bullwhip was rarely, if ever, used to strike cattle, as this could inflict damage to the animal.[citation needed]
The bullwhip should not be confused with the stockwhip, an Australian whip also used to control livestock but having a somewhat different structure. The cracking sound is of a sonic boom. This is most likely the first item used by humans to go faster than the speed of sound.