• Cane

    Pronunciation

    • IPA: /kÊ°eɪn/
    • Rhymes: -eɪn
    • Homophones: Cain

    Origin

    From Old French cane ("sugar cane"), from Latin canna ("reed"), from Ancient Greek κάννα, from Aramaic qanhā, qanyā, from Akkadian qanu 'tube, reed', from Sumerian gin 'reed'.

    Full definition of cane

    Noun

    cane

    (countable and uncountable; plural canes)
    1. To do with a plant with simple stems, like bamboo or sugar cane.
      1. (uncountable) The slender, flexible main stem of a plant such as bamboo, including many species in the grass family Gramineae.
      2. (uncountable) The plant itself, including many species in the grass family Gramineae; a reed.
      3. (uncountable) Sugar cane.
        • 1907, w, The Dust of Conflict Chapter 7, Still, a dozen men with rifles, and cartridges to match, stayed behind when they filed through a white aldea lying silent amid the cane, and the Sin Verguenza swung into slightly quicker stride.
      4. (US, Southern) Maize or, rarely, sorghum, when such plants are processed to make molasses (treacle) or sugar.
      5. The stem of such a plant adapted for use as a tool.
        1. (countable) A short rod or stick, traditionally of wood or bamboo, used for corporal punishment.
        2. (uncountable) Corporal punishment by beating with a cane.
          The teacher gave his student the cane for throwing paper.
        3. A lance or dart made of cane.
          • John Dryden (1631-1700)Judgelike thou sitt'st, to praise or to arraign
            The flying skirmish of the darted cane.
      6. A rod-shaped tool or device, somewhat like a cane.
        1. (countable) A strong short staff used for support or decoration during walking; a walking stick.
          After breaking his leg, he needed a cane to walk.
          • 1905, w, w:The Case of Miss Elliott Chapter 2, The cane was undoubtedly of foreign make, for it had a solid silver ferrule at one end, which was not English hall–marked.
          • 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, Mr. Pratt's Patients Chapter 10, Men that I knew around Wapatomac didn't wear high, shiny plug hats, nor yeller spring overcoats, nor carry canes with ivory heads as big as a catboat's anchor, as you might say.
        2. (countable, glassblowing) A length of colored and/or patterned glass rod, used in the specific glassblowing technique called caneworking.
        3. (countable) A long rod often collapsible and commonly white (for visibility to other persons), used by vision impaired persons for guidance in determining their course and for probing for obstacles in their path.
        4. (uncountable) Split rattan, as used in wickerwork, basketry and the like.
          • 1963, Margery Allingham, The China Governess Chapter 1, The half-dozen pieces … were painted white and carved with festoons of flowers, birds and cupids. …  The bed was the most extravagant piece.  Its graceful cane halftester rose high towards the cornice and was so festooned in carved white wood that the effect was positively insecure, as if the great couch were trimmed with icing sugar.
        5. A local European measure of length; the canna.

    Synonyms

    Derived terms

    Verb

    1. To strike or beat with a cane or similar implement.
    2. (British, New Zealand, slang) To destroy.
    3. (British, New Zealand, slang) To do something well, in a competent fashion.
    4. (UK, slang, intransitive) To produce extreme pain. Don't hit me with that. It really canes!Mate, my legs cane!
    5. (transitive) To make or furnish with cane or rattan.to cane chairs

    Anagrams

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