cane

¹cane

noun \ˈkān\

Definition of CANE

1

a (1) : a hollow or pithy and usually slender and flexible jointed stem (as of a reed) (2) : any of various slender woody stems; especially : an elongated flowering or fruiting stem (as of a rose) usually arising directly from the ground

b : any of various tall woody grasses or reeds: as (1) : any of a genus (Arundinaria) of coarse grasses (2) : sugarcane (3) : sorghum

2

: cane dressed for use: as

a : a cane walking stick; broadly : walking stick

b : a cane or rod for flogging

c : rattan; especially : split rattan for wickerwork or basketwork

3

: a tiny glass rod used in decorative glasswork (as in millefiori and paperweights)

Examples of CANE

1. In the past, some teachers would resort to the cane when students misbehaved.
2. The chair seat is made of cane.

Origin of CANE

Middle English, from Middle French, from Old Occitan cana, from Latin canna, from Greek kanna, of Semitic origin; akin to Akkadian qanū reed, Hebrew qāneh

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to CANE

Synonyms

bastinado (or bastinade), bat, baton, billy, billy club, bludgeon, club, cudgel, nightstick, rod, rung [Scottish], sap, shillelagh (also shillalah), staff, truncheon, waddy [Australian]

Related Words

blackjack, knobkerrie, mace; birch, crabstick, hickory, rattan, stave, switch; beetle, gavel, hammer, mallet, maul, sledgehammer; crook, crosier (or crozier), walking stick, whangee

Rhymes with CANE

ain, Aisne, ane, Bain, bane, blain, brain, chain, crane, deign, drain, fain, fane, feign, gain, grain, Kane, lane, Lane, main, mane, pain, Paine, pane, plain, plane, quean, rain, reign, rein, sain, sane, seine, Seine, skein, Spain, sprain, stain, strain, swain, thane, thegn, train, twain, Twain, vain, vane, vein, wain, wane, Wayne

²cane

transitive verb

canedcan·ing

Definition of CANE

1

: to beat with a cane <he sat in a professor's chair and caned sophomores for blowing spitballs — H. L. Mencken>

2

: to weave or furnish with cane <cane the seat of a chair>

Examples of CANE

1. In the past, some teachers would cane students who misbehaved.

First Known Use of CANE

1662

cane

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Hollow or pithy and usually slender and flexible jointed stem (as of a reed). Also, any of various slender woody stems, especially an elongated flowering or fruiting stem (as of a rose) usually arising directly from the ground. The term is also applied to any of various tall woody grasses or reeds, including the coarse grasses of the genus Arundinaria (see bamboo), sugarcane, and sorghum.