Cobbing
A punishment often used aboard ship to address petty offenses. It normally involved 12 or so whacks to the posterior with a cobbing stick (a heavy, flat piece of wood resembling a yardstick) or pipe staff, although handsawa or anything flat could also be used in a pinch.
"Cobbed". Plate by W. Read, after Thomas Rowlandson (1756-1827), from The Adventures of Johnny Newcome in the Navy, 1818. (x)
The first stroke on the back was traditionally accompanied with the cry of "Watch" at which time all crew in the vicinity removed their hats on pain of like punishment. The closing stroke, which was always delivered with as much force as possible, was called the "purse". But that only referred to the way in which the adults or boys over 14 were punished. Boys under 14 and midshipmen were punished with a slap on the butt, but the procedure was the same.
