The Collaborative International Dictionary
Cane \Cane\ (k[=a]n), n. [OE. cane, canne, OF. cane, F. canne, L. canna, fr. Gr. ka`nna, ka`nnh; prob. of Semitic origin; cf. Heb. q[=a]neh reed. Cf. Canister, canon, 1st Cannon.]
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(Bot.)
A name given to several peculiar palms, species of Calamus and D[ae]manorops, having very long, smooth flexible stems, commonly called rattans.
Any plant with long, hard, elastic stems, as reeds and bamboos of many kinds; also, the sugar cane.
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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. Arundinaria tecta.
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A walking stick; a staff; -- so called because originally made of one of the species of cane.
Stir the fire with your master's cane.
--Swift. -
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. -
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.
WordNet
n. small cane of watery or moist areas in southern United States [syn: switch cane, Arundinaria tecta]
Usage examples of "small cane".
Yoda, leaning on his small cane, glanced at Bail Organa, always a reliable and competent man, and gave a slight nod.
In the room there was a small cane table with a candelabrum on it in which three thick candles were burning.
He had clean gloves and a small cane in his hand, with which he was describing circles on the gravel before him, evidently in deep thought.
Downriver, in a spot where few fish had ever been caught, was Hank with a small cane pole.
A small bonnet, coquettishly fixed on the summit of a high head-dress, high-heeled shoes, which showed the exquisite shape of a beautiful instep, a small cane twirled by the gloved fingers of a slender and delicate hand, with tapering and perfectly aristocratic fingers: such was the person so anxiously expected by Gilbert.
An old woman with a stand of flowers sat on a small cane chair at the corner.
This meant that he sat on his bed while his guest occupied a small cane-seated chair by the window.
A wardrobe was tucked into one corner of the room, and next to that a small fold-top table and two small cane-back chairs stood pressed to the wall under the only window in the room.