I believe the term "whip," as used here, refers to the driver who carries (and uses) an actual whip. A "whip" carried the whip. Depending on the context of the useage, there may be overtones of skill indicated. A man who was a poor whip wasn't very good at driving his curricle, phaeton, or other type of wheeled vehicle.
The foregoing is courtesy of a misspent youth in which I read copious amounts of Georgette Heyer. A check of the online OED gives the following: whip, n. 4. a. One who wields a driving-whip; a driver of horses, a coachman. (Usually with descriptive adj. or phr. expressing skill or style.) [quotations] 1775 R. B. Sheridan, Rivals, i. i, None of the London whips of any degree of ton wear wigs now. 1836 Dickens, Pickwick Papers, (1837) xiii. 128 You're a wery good whip, and can do what you like with your horses. 1855 F. E. Smedley, Harry Coverdale's Courtship, v, The old boy is nothing of a whip. 1884 Earl of Malmesbury, Mem. Ex-Minister, I. 16 He..drove four-in-hand better than any whip between Windsor and London. Ginni Morgan >>> <penn...@costumegallery.com> 6/27/12 9:41 PM >>> I am working with a 1914 etiquette book and a person titled Whip is used in the section about Dress When Driving. What / Who is a Whip in this context? "Men who are guests on a coach wear morning or afternoon dress according to the hour of the day on which the vehicle makes its start. The whip, if the host of the occasion, is usually arrayed in distinctive costume. A gray suit is the usual selection for spring and summer, brown is a frequent choice for the autumn.. In the country, and in summer, a gentleman whip wears a light colored and light-weight suit, with brown shoes and gloves and a straw or panama hat. For touring, or driving an automobile.No ceremonious costume for men has yet been evolved to approximate, in style and completeness, the formal dress an amateur whip wears." Penny Ladnier, owner The Costume Gallery Websites <http://www.costumegallery.com/> www.costumegallery.com 15 websites of fashion, costume, and textile history FaceBook: <http://www.facebook.com/TheCostumeGallery> http://www.facebook.com/TheCostumeGallery _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication with its contents may contain confidential and/or legally privileged information. It is solely for the use of the intended recipient(s). Unauthorized interception, review, use or disclosure is prohibited and may violate applicable laws including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and destroy all copies of the communication. _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
