cane

1 of 2

noun

ˈkān 

1

a(1)

: a hollow or pithy, usually slender, and often flexible jointed stem (as of a reed or bamboo)

a fishing pole made of cane

(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: such as

(1)

: any of a genus (Arundinaria) of bamboo

(2)

: sugarcane

(3)

: sorghum

c

: rattan sense 2b

especially : split rattan for wickerwork or basketwork

2

: a stick typically of wood or metal with a usually curved handle at one end that is grasped to provide stability in walking or standing

3

: a rod or stick used for flogging

4

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

cane

2 of 2

verb

caned; caning

transitive verb

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

Synonyms

Noun

• bastinado
• bastinade
• bat
• baton
• billy
• billy club
• bludgeon
• club
• cudgel
• nightstick
• rod
• rung [Scottish]
• sap
• shillelagh
• shillalah
• staff
• truncheon
• waddy [Australian]

Examples of cane in a Sentence

Noun

In the past, some teachers would resort to the cane when students misbehaved.

The chair seat is made of cane.

Verb

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Kayla also has Lupus and left behind both her cane and her medication. —Anna Turning, NBC News, 12 Sep. 2023

Gone are the shards that would litter the ground as children scrambled for the tangerines, pieces of sugar cane and candy that poured out. —Susan Montoya Bryan, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2023

This can be done with a hand, paddle, cane, whip, flogger, or other instrument. —Dominique Fluker, Essence, 7 Sep. 2023

Shorten long, lanky canes that can whip around in the wind. —Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Sep. 2023

The island chain used to be home to a booming pineapple and sugar cane industry. —Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 17 Aug. 2023

In 1985 in Africatown, Ala., a dignified elder, Violet Allen, stared directly into Mr. Freeman’s camera while seated and holding her cane. —Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2023

Her family immigrated to Maui from Okinawa, Japan, as part of the influx of laborers that were brought in to work on the island’s sugar cane plantations. —Catherine Thorbecke, CNN, 15 Aug. 2023

Showcasing the student walking through school hallways with a white cane, the video also includes Ashton’s mother encouraging parents to teach their children about blind students, and asks children to include others who have disabilities. —Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 29 Aug. 2023

Verb

Prune canes back to two buds if canes are infected. —oregonlive, 19 Aug. 2023

Advocates say Islamic laws have increasingly used to target the Southeast Asian country’s LGBTQ community, with a rise in arrests and punishments ranging from caning to jailing. —Jessie Yeung, CNN, 25 July 2023

Such high-traffic areas can feel cluttered, but thoughtful details like caning can help calm the chaos. —Caroline Picard, House Beautiful, 24 July 2023

Five men were sentenced to jail, caning and fines, sparking outrage among human rights activists. —Jessie Yeung, CNN, 25 July 2023

Malaysia has jailed or caned people for homosexuality. —Reuters, NBC News, 17 July 2023

To use as a jewelry holder, simply hang or attach earrings through caning holes. —Charlyne Mattox, Country Living, 24 June 2023

The details are exquisite, from the burgundy caning on a desk chair to the checkerboard marquetry on a coffee table. —Diana Budds, Curbed, 28 Apr. 2023

Cut pieces of caning that are just larger than the inside ring, then attach to the ring with hot- glue. —Charlyne Mattox, Country Living, 24 June 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

circa 1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cane

• cane sugar
• cane corso
• candy cane
• sword cane
• dumb cane
• malacca cane
• the cane
• cane toad

• cane sugar
• cane corso
• candy cane
• sword cane
• dumb cane
• malacca cane
• the cane
• cane toad

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Kids Definition

cane

1 of 2 noun

ˈkān 

1

a

: a jointed plant stem that is usually slender and more or less flexible

b

: any of various tall woody grasses or reeds

especially : sugarcane

2

a

: walking stick sense 1

b

: a rod for flogging

c

: rattan sense 2

cane

2 of 2 verb

caned; caning

1

: to beat with a cane

2

: to make with cane

cane the seat of a chair