cane

[keyn]

noun

1. a stick or short staff used to assist one in walking; walking stick.

2. a long, hollow or pithy, jointed woody stem, as that of bamboo, rattan, sugarcane, and certain palms.

3. a plant having such a stem.

4. split rattan woven or interlaced for chair seats, wickerwork, etc.

5. any of several tall bamboolike grasses, especially of the genus Arundinaria, as A. gigantea cane reed, large cane, giant cane, or southern cane and A. tecta small cane, or switch cane, of the southern United States.

6. the stem of a raspberry or blackberry.

7. sugarcane.

8. a rod used for flogging.

9. a slender cylinder or rod, as of sealing wax or glass.

verb (used with object)

caned, caning 

1. to flog with a cane.

2. to furnish or make with cane.

   to cane chairs.

cane

¹

/ keɪn /

noun

1. 1. the long jointed pithy or hollow flexible stem of the bamboo, rattan, or any similar plant

   2. any plant having such a stem

2. 1. strips of such stems, woven or interlaced to make wickerwork, the seats and backs of chairs, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      a cane chair

3. the woody stem of a reed, young grapevine, blackberry, raspberry, or loganberry

4. any of several grasses with long stiff stems, esp Arundinaria gigantea of the southeastern US

5. a flexible rod with which to administer a beating as a punishment, as to schoolboys

6. a slender rod, usually wooden and often ornamental, used for support when walking; walking stick

7. See sugar cane

8. a slender rod or cylinder, as of glass

verb

1. to whip or beat with or as if with a cane

2. to make or repair with cane

3. informal,  to defeat

   we got well caned in the match

4. slang,  to do something with great power, force, or speed or consume something such as alcohol in large quantities

   you can do it in ten minutes if you really cane it

cane

²

/ keɪn /

noun

1. dialect,  a female weasel

Other Word Forms

• caner noun
• canelike adjective
• cany adjective
• recane verb (used with object)
• uncaned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cane¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin canna, from Greek kánna, from Semitic; compare Akkadian qanū, Hebrew qāneh “reed”

Word History and Origins

Origin of cane¹

C14: from Old French, from Latin canna, from Greek kanna, of Semitic origin; related to Arabic qanāh reed

Origin of cane²

C18: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

When I first came to Gail’s house, I sat on a dining room chair of hers with a wicker cane seat.

From Los Angeles Times

He adds, grinning, “Even Maggie’s cane didn’t hit too many people.”

From Los Angeles Times

These include stiffer fines, longer jail terms and even caning.

From BBC

Sugar beets — root vegetables that contain high levels of sucrose — are used to produce more than half the sugar in the U.S., alongside sugar cane.

From Los Angeles Times

Calum is now learning to use a cane and hopes to apply for a guide dog soon.

From BBC

Related Words

• pole 
• rod 
• walking stick