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

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

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

An I goes down to de Court House, and when I see dem cannons in deyard I cain keep from cryin'.

From Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Tennessee Narratives by Work Projects Administration

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

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

You ought to see him raising cain over his mask being lost.

From Jimmy Kirkland and the Plot for a Pennant by Hugh S. Fullerton

Uncle Marion sho cain give yo a helpin good luck hand.

From Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves, Arkansas Narratives, Part 4 by Work Projects Administration

Serena Cain, 50, travelled from Norfolk to hike up the mountain with her partner for his 56th birthday.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

“You can imagine stepping off the train in 1880s Monrovia and going and staying in this exact inn in the prettiest little town in the Old West,” Cain said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

Cain has a hunch the clientele will be as special as the place itself.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

Burwell said he’s flattered by recent online praise from the likes of Ethel Cain, Flying Lotus and Kid Cudi for his score.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

“It wasn’t meant to be you tonight,” Cain said, but Celaena’s eyes remained on the beast, who began panting.

From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas