■ noun
1》 a thin straight bar, especially of wood or metal.
2》 a fishing ~.
3》 a slender straight stick or shoot growing on or cut from a tree or bush.
↘( the ~ ) the use of a stick for caning or flogging.
4》 historical, chiefly Brit. another term for perch 3 (in sense 1).
↘(also square ~ ) another term for perch 3 (in sense 2).
5》 US informal a pistol or revolver.
6》 Anatomy one of two types of light-sensitive cell present in the retina of the eye, responsible mainly for monochrome vision in poor light. Compare with cone (in sense 3).
Phrases
make a ~ for one's own back do something likely to cause difficulties for oneself later.
rule someone/thing with a ~ of iron control or govern someone or something very harshly.
Derivatives
~less adjective
~let noun
~-like adjective
Origin
OE ~d ; prob. related to ON rudda 'club'.