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

She’s in one of her signature turbans — this one has a third eye front and center — and holds a cane in the shape of a black cat.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

Susan, who has multiple sclerosis, walks with a cane, but one wouldn’t be surprised to see her wielding it as a rapier.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

Crouch, who walks with the aid of a cane, proudly wore a hat proclaiming that he was a veteran of the Vietnam war.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

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

I shifted in my chair, the cane seat hard and uncomfortable.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

Related Words

• pole
• rod
• walking stick