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ferule

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noun fer·ule \ˈfer-əl, ˈfe-rəl\
variants: or less commonly

ferula

play \ˈfer-(y)ə-lə\

Definition of ferule

  1. 1 :  an instrument (such as a flat piece of wood like a ruler) used to punish children

  2. 2 :  school discipline

From the M-W Editors

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Origin and Etymology of ferule

Latin ferula giant fennel, ferule

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