cain

[ keyn ]

nounScot. and Irish English.
  1. rent paid in kind, especially a percentage of a farm crop.

Origin of cain

1
Middle English (Scots ) cane, from Scots Gaelic; compare Old Irish cáin “statute, law, rent”
  • Also Scot., kane .

Other definitions for Cain (2 of 3)

Cain1
[ keyn ]

noun
  1. the first son of Adam and Eve, who murdered his brother Abel. Genesis 4.

  2. a murderer.

Other words from Cain

  • Cainism, noun
  • Cain·it·ic [key-nit-ik], /keɪˈnɪt ɪk/, adjective

Other definitions for Cain (3 of 3)

Cain2
[ keyn ]

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use cain in a sentence

  • We've been in consultation with Mr. Judson and Mr. Kane, and the whole thing is to be called off to-morrow morning!

    Mountain | Clement Wood
  • I think you'd best take the end, Mr. Kane; me and Mr. Herrick the front windows—Lord, who's this?

    "Persons Unknown" | Virginia Tracy
  • Kane peered through the broken slat and with a very grim expression drew back for the others.

    "Persons Unknown" | Virginia Tracy
  • One group passed so close to the end windows that Kane fired at it and produced a commotion which he followed by another shot.

    "Persons Unknown" | Virginia Tracy
  • The man sank under him with a deathly groan and now it was Kane who called for a candle.

    "Persons Unknown" | Virginia Tracy

British Dictionary definitions for cain (1 of 2)

cain

kain

/ (keɪn) /


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

Origin of cain

1
C12: from Scottish Gaelic cāin rent, perhaps ultimately from Late Latin canōn tribute (see canon); compare Middle Irish cāin law

British Dictionary definitions for Cain (2 of 2)

Cain

/ (keɪn) /


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

  2. raise Cain

    • to cause a commotion

    • to react or protest heatedly

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with cain

cain

see raise Cain.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.