Jump To:

• cain
  cain

  noun

  rent paid in kind, especially a percentage of a farm crop.
• Cain
  Cain

  noun

  (in the Bible) the first son of Adam and Eve, who murdered his brother Abel.

cain

¹ American  

[kayn] / keɪn /

Scot., kane

noun

Scot. and Irish English.

1. rent paid in kind, especially a percentage of a farm crop.

---

Cain ² American  

[kayn] / keɪn /

noun

1. (in the Bible) the first son of Adam and Eve, who murdered his brother Abel.

2. a murderer.

---

idioms

1. raise Cain,

   1. become angry or violent.

      He'll raise Cain when he finds out I lost his watch.

   2. to behave in a boisterous manner; cause a disturbance.

      The students raised Cain while the teacher was out.

Cain ³ American  

[kayn] / keɪn /

noun

1. James M., 1892–1977, U.S. novelist.

---

Cain ¹ British  

/ keɪn /

noun

1. the first son of Adam and Eve, who killed his brother Abel (Genesis 4:1–16)

2. 1. to cause a commotion

   2. to react or protest heatedly

---

cain ² British  

/ keɪn /

noun

1. history (in Scotland and Ireland) payment in kind, usually farm produce paid as rent

---

Cain More Idioms  

1. see raise Cain.

---

Other Word Forms

• Cainism
  noun
• Cainitic
  adjective

---

Etymology

Origin of cain

Middle English ( Scots ) cane, from Scots Gaelic; compare Old Irish cáin “statute, law, rent”

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cain Cain

Dungalach, son of Faelghus, Grandson of just Nadfraech, Was the first who transgressed Patrick's cain from the beginning.

From The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings by James O'Leary

Th' railroad hands got paid, to-day, an' they're raisin' cain.

From Injun and Whitey to the Rescue by William S. Hart

It had been there two weeks, and he didn't know what in cain to do with it.

From Tempest and Sunshine by Mary Jane Holmes

The modern woman has learned it is a club that raises cain.

From Modern Eloquence: Vol III, After-Dinner Speeches P-Z by Various

Yo' see I ham 't been used t' hit down whar I lived an' I cain 't feel comfortable with a lot of machinery so close to me.

From The Boy Scout Fire Fighters by Irving Crump

According to Tulsa World, Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain told the crowd to hang tight while the medical team checked on the drummer.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

Mark Cain was not asked to enter a plea and no application for bail was made.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

The body of 45-year-old GP Dr Hannah Terry, also known as Hannah Cain, was found at a property in Fern Hill in Dersingham, in Norfolk, on Sunday.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

Hannah Cain was listed as a member of the practice team at Grimston Medical Centre, which reopened on Wednesday after two days of closure.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

Cain cleared the trees and raised his arms above his head in victory.

From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---