caned

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cane

(kān)

a. A slender, strong but often flexible stem, as of certain bamboos, reeds, or rattans.

b. A plant having such a stem.

c. Such stems or strips of such stems used for wickerwork or baskets.

2. A bamboo (Arundinaria gigantea) native to the southeast United States, having long stiff stems and often forming canebrakes.

3. The stem of a raspberry, blackberry, certain roses, or similar plants.

4. Sugarcane.

5. A stick used as an aid in walking or carried as an accessory.

6. A rod used for flogging.

7. A glass cylinder made of smaller, variously colored glass rods that have been fused together, used in glassmaking.

tr.v. caned, can·ing, canes

1. To make, supply, or repair with flexible woody material.

2. To hit or beat with a rod.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin canna, small reed, from Greek kanna, of Semitic origin; see qnw in Semitic roots.]

can′er n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

References in classic literature ?

With this, and wholly disregarding a piteous cry for mercy, Mr Squeers fell upon the boy and caned him soundly: not leaving off, indeed, until his arm was tired out.

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He was always being caned - I think he was caned every day that half-year, except one holiday Monday when he was only ruler'd on both hands - and was always going to write to his uncle about it, and never did.

Creakle then caned Tommy Traddles for being discovered in tears, instead of cheers, on account of Mr.