Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Cane?

\Cane\, n. [OE. cane, canne, OF. cane, F. canne, L. canna, fr. Gr. ?, ?; prob. of Semitic origin; cf. Heb. q[=a]neh reed. Cf. {Canister}, {canon}, 1st {Cannon}.] 1. (Bot.) (a) A name given to several peculiar palms, species of {Calamus} and {D[ae]manorops}, having very long, smooth flexible stems, commonly called rattans. (b) Any plant with long, hard, elastic stems, as reeds and bamboos of many kinds; also, the sugar cane. (c) Stems of other plants are sometimes called canes; as, the canes of a raspberry. Like light canes, that first rise big and brave. --B. Jonson. Note: In the Southern United States {great cane} is the {Arundinaria macrosperma}, and {small cane} is. {A. tecta}. 2. A walking stick; a staff; -- so called because originally made of one the species of cane. Stir the fire with your master's cane. --Swift. 3. A lance or dart made of cane. [R.] Judgelike thou sitt'st, to praise or to arraign The flying skirmish of the darted cane. --Dryden. 4. A local European measure of length. See {Canna}. {Cane borer} (Zo["o].), A beetle {(Oberea bimaculata)} which, in the larval state, bores into pith and destroy the canes or stalks of the raspberry, blackberry, etc. {Cane mill}, a mill for grinding sugar canes, for the manufacture of sugar. {Cane trash}, the crushed stalks and other refuse of sugar cane, used for fuel, etc.
\Cane\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Caned}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Caning}.] 1. To beat with a cane. --Macaulay. 2. To make or furnish with cane or rattan; as, to cane chairs.