n.
Pronunciation: ' k ā n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Old Occitan cana, from Latin canna, from Greek kanna, of Semitic origin; akin to Akkadian qan ū reed, Hebrew q ā neh
Date: 14th century
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)