Belting (beating)
Encyclopedia
Belting is the use of belt
s made of strong materials (usually leather
) as a whip
-like instrument for corporal punishment
(see that article for generalities). It is most often associated with education
al institutions where it has been used as disciplinary
measure but it has also been applied domestically by parents. This practice has now been abolished by most schools, at least in the Western world
, as it is seen by many as abusive and excessive punishment
, though many parents, especially fathers, still belt their children, although illegal in the United States and punishable as a criminal act.
The punisher might use his own belt (always at hand) or the one worn by the person to be punished, indeed in the mid-19th century many boys were made to wear a belt by their parents, in part to be used as a punishment device and as a permanent reminder; in other cases, especially in an institutional context, a separate belt is kept (e.g. in the head’s office) solely for disciplinary use, and possibly displayed, again as a warning.
The difference with a strapping
, although in practice both terms are also used unprecisely as synonyms, is that a strap is harder, made from heavier and/or thicker leather, and may be specially made for discipline and have a handle (notably a prison strap), unlike a 'real' belt.
The beating is usually administered to the bare buttocks
or back
or both of the miscreant youth who bends over furniture or the punisher's lap
.
A belt might be used to lash in three ways:
In domestic discipline it was mainly used by fathers, while mothers rather used a slipper, or some kitchen utensil.
The term is also used figuratively for any beating in general, regardless of the implement (e.g. in Scotland, the tawse
, a forked type of strap, was frequently called the belt) or even absence thereof, also in the figurative sense, such as a defeat or similarly unpleasant, painful and/or humiliating (e.g. verbal) treatment, or even an impersonal misfortune that feels as painful, such as a financial loss.
Belt (clothing)
A belt is a flexible band or strap, typically made of leather or heavy cloth, and worn around the waist. A belt supports trousers or other articles of clothing.-History:...
s made of strong materials (usually leather
Leather
Leather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...
) as a whip
Whip
A whip is a tool traditionally used by humans to exert control over animals or other people, through pain compliance or fear of pain, although in some activities whips can be used without use of pain, such as an additional pressure aid in dressage...
-like instrument for corporal punishment
Corporal punishment
Corporal punishment is a form of physical punishment that involves the deliberate infliction of pain as retribution for an offence, or for the purpose of disciplining or reforming a wrongdoer, or to deter attitudes or behaviour deemed unacceptable...
(see that article for generalities). It is most often associated with education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
al institutions where it has been used as disciplinary
Discipline
In its original sense, discipline is referred to systematic instruction given to disciples to train them as students in a craft or trade, or to follow a particular code of conduct or "order". Often, the phrase "to discipline" carries a negative connotation. This is because enforcement of order –...
measure but it has also been applied domestically by parents. This practice has now been abolished by most schools, at least in the Western world
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
, as it is seen by many as abusive and excessive punishment
Punishment
Punishment is the authoritative imposition of something negative or unpleasant on a person or animal in response to behavior deemed wrong by an individual or group....
, though many parents, especially fathers, still belt their children, although illegal in the United States and punishable as a criminal act.
The punisher might use his own belt (always at hand) or the one worn by the person to be punished, indeed in the mid-19th century many boys were made to wear a belt by their parents, in part to be used as a punishment device and as a permanent reminder; in other cases, especially in an institutional context, a separate belt is kept (e.g. in the head’s office) solely for disciplinary use, and possibly displayed, again as a warning.
The difference with a strapping
Strapping (punishment)
Strapping refers to the use of a strap as an implement of corporal punishment. It is typically a broad and heavy strip of leather, often with a hard handle, the more flexible 'blade' being applied to the offender....
, although in practice both terms are also used unprecisely as synonyms, is that a strap is harder, made from heavier and/or thicker leather, and may be specially made for discipline and have a handle (notably a prison strap), unlike a 'real' belt.
The beating is usually administered to the bare buttocks
Buttocks
The buttocks are two rounded portions of the anatomy, located on the posterior of the pelvic region of apes and humans, and many other bipeds or quadrupeds, and comprise a layer of fat superimposed on the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles. Physiologically, the buttocks enable weight to...
or back
Back
- People :* Adam Back, British cryptographer* Charles Back, South African winemaker* Chris Back , Australian politician* Ernst Emil Alexander Back , German physicist* Frédéric Back , Canadian animator...
or both of the miscreant youth who bends over furniture or the punisher's lap
Lap
A lap is a surface created between the knee and hips of a bipedal being when it is in a seated or lying down position.-Consumer products for laps:...
.
A belt might be used to lash in three ways:
- doubled by holding both ends in one hand, this halves its length (necessary in case of bending over knee or lap) but increases its effective thickness, both making it behave more like a strap;
- single, while holding the buckle or wrapping that around the fist; its weight is reduced which results in softer impact, but its length increased
- least common but most severe, holding the buckle-less end, so that the buckle can 'bite' the flesh particularly hard.
In domestic discipline it was mainly used by fathers, while mothers rather used a slipper, or some kitchen utensil.
The term is also used figuratively for any beating in general, regardless of the implement (e.g. in Scotland, the tawse
Tawse
The tawse, sometimes formerly spelled taws is an implement used for corporal punishment...
, a forked type of strap, was frequently called the belt) or even absence thereof, also in the figurative sense, such as a defeat or similarly unpleasant, painful and/or humiliating (e.g. verbal) treatment, or even an impersonal misfortune that feels as painful, such as a financial loss.