First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1cane
noun \ˈkān\
: a short stick that often has a curved handle and is used to help someone to walk
the cane : a form of punishment in which a person is hit with a cane or stick
: the hard hollow stem of a plant (such as bamboo or reed) that is used to make furniture and baskets
Full 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)
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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
Related to CANE
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
2cane
verb
: to hit (someone) with a cane or stick as a form of punishment
canedcan·ing
Full Definition of CANE
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>
See cane defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of CANE
1662
CANE Defined for Kids
cane
noun \ˈkān\
Definition of CANE for Kids
1
: an often hollow, slender, and somewhat flexible plant stem
2
: a tall woody grass or reed (as sugarcane)
3
: a rod made especially of wood or metal that often has a curved handle and is used to help someone walk
4
: a rod for beating
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