The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Knout \Knout\ (nout or n[=oo]t), n. [Russ. knut'; prob. of
   Scand. origin; cf. Sw. knut knot, knout, Icel. kn[=u]tr knot:
   cf. F. knout. See Knot.]
   A kind of whip for flogging criminals, formerly much used in
   Russia. The lash is a tapering bundle of leather thongs
   twisted with wire and hardened, so that it mangles the flesh.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Knout \Knout\, v. t.
   To punish with the knout. --Brougham.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

knout
    n 1: a whip with a lash of leather thongs twisted with wire;
         used for flogging prisoners