ferule

1
[ fer-uh l, -ool ]
/ ˈfɛr əl, -ul /

noun

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

verb (used with object), fer·uled, fer·ul·ing.

to punish with a ferule.

Origin of ferule

1
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

Definition for ferule (2 of 3)

ferule 2
[ fer-uh l, -ool ]
/ ˈfɛr əl, -ul /

noun, verb (used with object), fer·uled, fer·ul·ing.

Definition for ferule (3 of 3)

ferrule

or fer·ule

[ fer-uh l, -ool ]
/ ˈfɛr əl, -ul /

noun

verb (used with object), fer·ruled, fer·rul·ing.

to furnish with a ferrule.

Origin of ferrule

1605–15; alteration (apparently conformed to Latin ferrum iron, -ule) of verrel, verril, late Middle English virole < Middle French (cognate with Medieval Latin virola) < Latin viriola, equivalent to viri(a) bracelet + -ola -ole1

Example sentences from the Web for ferule

British Dictionary definitions for ferule (1 of 3)

ferule 1
/ (ˈfɛruːl, -rəl) /

noun

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

verb

(tr) rare to punish with a ferule

Word Origin for ferule

C16: from Latin ferula giant fennel, whip, rod; the stalk of the plant was used for punishment

British Dictionary definitions for ferule (2 of 3)

ferule 2
/ (ˈfɛruːl, -rəl) /

noun

a variant spelling of ferrule

British Dictionary definitions for ferule (3 of 3)

ferrule

ferule

/ (ˈfɛruːl, -rəl) /

noun

a metal ring, tube, or cap placed over the end of a stick, handle, or post for added strength or stability or to increase wear
a side opening in a pipe that gives access for inspection or cleaning
a bush, gland, small length of tube, etc, esp one used for making a joint

verb

(tr) to equip (a stick, etc) with a ferrule

Word Origin for ferrule

C17: from Middle English virole, from Old French virol, from Latin viriola a little bracelet, from viria bracelet; influenced by Latin ferrum iron