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

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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