Cane (?), n. [OE. cane, canne, OF. cane, F. canne, L. canna, fr. Gr. , ; prob. of Semitic origin; cf. Heb. qaneh reed. Cf. Canister, canon, 1st Cannon.]
1. Bot. (a)
A name given to several peculiar palms, species of Calamus and Daemanorops, 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.
⇒ 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A walking stick; a staff; -- so called because originally made of one the species of cane.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 Zoo., 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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.