Showing results for "ferule"

• a variation of ferrule.

ferule

¹ American  

[fer-uhl, -ool] / ˈfɛr əl, -ul /

noun

1. Also a rod, cane, or flat piece of wood for punishing children, especially by striking them on the hand.

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verb (used with object)

feruled, feruling

1. to punish with a ferule.

ferule ² American  

[fer-uhl, -ool] / ˈfɛr əl, -ul /

noun

feruled, feruling

1. ferrule.

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ferule ¹ British  

/ -rəl, ˈfɛruːl /

noun

1. a flat piece of wood, such as a ruler, used in some schools to cane children on the hand

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verb

1. rare (tr) to punish with a ferule

ferule ² British  

/ ˈfɛruːl, -rəl /

noun

1. a variant spelling of ferrule

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Etymology

Origin of ferule

1375–1425; late Middle English ferula, ferul ( e ) giant fennel < Latin ferula schoolmaster's rod (literally, stalk of giant fennel); replacing Old English ferele < Latin

Example Sentences

A kind of miracle happened: the ferule of the teacher became the poet's magic wand.

From Time Magazine Archive

Yen picked up his ferule and hit it like a student.

From "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston

If he should curve his elbow in the least, it would get a rap from the master's ferule.

From Little Grandmother by May, Sophie

He sighed, striking at the ground with the ferule of his stick.

From Miss Arnott's Marriage by Marsh, Richard

The ferule always lies upon the teacher’s desk, and serves also as a tally.

From Village Life in China A Study in Sociology by Smith, Arthur H.

Related Words

• berate
• castigate
• censure
• flog
• lash
• punish
• upbraid