cane

American  

[keyn] / keɪn /

noun

1. a stick or short staff used to assist one in walking; walking stick.

2. a long, hollow or pithy, jointed woody stem, as that of bamboo, rattan, sugarcane, and certain palms.

3. a plant having such a stem.

4. split rattan woven or interlaced for chair seats, wickerwork, etc.

5. any of several tall bamboolike grasses, especially of the genus Arundinaria, as A. gigantea cane reed, large cane, giant cane, or southern cane and A. tecta small cane, or switch cane, of the southern United States.

6. the stem of a raspberry or blackberry.

7. sugarcane.

8. a rod used for flogging.

9. a slender cylinder or rod, as of sealing wax or glass.

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verb (used with object)

caned, caning

1. to flog with a cane.

2. to furnish or make with cane.

   to cane chairs.

cane ¹ British  

/ keɪn /

noun

1. 1. the long jointed pithy or hollow flexible stem of the bamboo, rattan, or any similar plant

   2. any plant having such a stem

2. 1. strips of such stems, woven or interlaced to make wickerwork, the seats and backs of chairs, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      a cane chair

3. the woody stem of a reed, young grapevine, blackberry, raspberry, or loganberry

4. any of several grasses with long stiff stems, esp Arundinaria gigantea of the southeastern US

5. a flexible rod with which to administer a beating as a punishment, as to schoolboys

6. a slender rod, usually wooden and often ornamental, used for support when walking; walking stick

7. See sugar cane

8. a slender rod or cylinder, as of glass

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verb

1. to whip or beat with or as if with a cane

2. to make or repair with cane

3. informal to defeat

   we got well caned in the match

4. slang to do something with great power, force, or speed or consume something such as alcohol in large quantities

   you can do it in ten minutes if you really cane it

cane ² British  

/ keɪn /

noun

1. dialect a female weasel

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Other Word Forms

• canelike adjective
• caner noun
• cany adjective
• recane verb (used with object)
• uncaned adjective

Etymology

Origin of cane

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin canna, from Greek kánna, from Semitic; compare Akkadian qanū, Hebrew qāneh “reed”

Example Sentences

Coffee and fruit is a popular pairing among Vietnam’s younger drinkers, including those inside Blackbird’s Old Quarter location, where teens and 20-somethings sip espresso drinks spiked with banana, mango, pomegranate, kumquat, sugar cane and more.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

Singapore has toughened punishments for convicted scammers -- including up to 24 strokes with a cane -- and created a 24-hour helpline that receives up to 700 calls daily.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

While launching into his 2022 dembow-trap hit, “Titi Me Preguntó,” Bad Bunny walked the cameras through the makeshift sugar cane field, which was tilled by dancers dressed as jíbaros.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2026

Plant-based syrup, such as glucose syrup derived from sugar cane, can be half the price of genuine honey, or even less.

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2026

The non-fisherwoman is also brandishing a crooked staff, curved at the top like a wooden candy cane.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

Related Words

• pole
• rod
• walking stick