I. ˈkān noun
( plural canes or cane )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Old Provençal cana, from Latin canna, from Greek kanna, of Semitic origin; akin to Arabic qanāh hollow stick, reed, Hebrew qāneh, Assyrian qanū
1. : a hollow or pithy jointed stem that is usually slender and more or less flexible
2. obsolete : pipe , tube ; especially : a slender glass tube
3.
a. : a slender jointed stem used as a walking stick
b. : a short staff used as an aid in walking : walking stick
c. : a rod or stick used for flogging
4. : a slender rod or cylinder (as of solid glass or sulfur)
5.
a. : rattan ; especially : split rattan used in chair seats and wicker articles
b.
(1) : the stem of any one of various bamboolike grasses especially of the genus Arundinaria
(2) : any plant of this genus
c.
(1) : sugarcane
(2) : the stems of sugarcane
d. : sorghum ; especially : sorgo
6. : one of the stems of certain plants ; especially : a shoot directly from the base (as in the raspberry, grape, or rose)
7. : a warp in handweaving
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1. : to punish by whacking or beating 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 (as seats or backs of chairs)
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
Britain : weasel ; especially : a small female weasel