cane

Etymology

From Middle English cane, canne, from Old French cane (“sugar cane”), from Latin canna (“reed”), from Ancient Greek κάννα (kánna), from Akkadian 𒄀 (qanû, “reed”), from Sumerian 𒄀𒈾 (gi.na). Related to channel and canal.

noun

1. A plant with simple stems, like bamboo or sugar cane, or the stem thereof
   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
      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. 1907, Harold Bindloss, chapter 7, in The Dust of Conflict
   4. (US, Southern) Maize or, rarely, sorghum, when such plants are processed to make molasses (treacle) or sugar
2. 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. (with "the") 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
      Judgelike thou sitt'st, to praise or to arraign / The flying skirmish of the darted cane. 1670, John Dryden, The Conquest of Granada
3. 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.
      The cane was undoubtedly of foreign make, for it had a solid silver ferrule at one end, which was not English hall–marked. 1905, Baroness Emmuska Orczy, chapter 2, in The Ayrsham Mystery
      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. 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 10, in Mr. Pratt's Patients
   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
   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. 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 1, in The China Governess
5. A local European measure of length; the canna.

verb

1. to strike or beat with a cane or similar implement
2. (Britain, New Zealand, slang) to destroy; to comprehensively defeat
   Mudchester Rovers were caned 10-0.
3. (Britain, 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