switch cane

noun

See under cane(def 5).

Origin of switch cane

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45

Words nearby switch cane

swisser, swissvale, swit., switch, switch box, switch cane, switch engine, switch grass, switch off, switch on, switch plate

Definition for switch cane (2 of 2)

cane

[ keyn ]

/ keɪn /

noun

a stick or short staff used to assist one in walking; walking stick.

a long, hollow or pithy, jointed woody stem, as that of bamboo, rattan, sugar cane, and certain palms.

a plant having such a stem.

split rattan woven or interlaced for chair seats, wickerwork, etc.

any of several tall bamboolike grasses, especially of the genus Arundinaria, as A. gigantea (cane reed, large cane, giant cane, or southern cane) and A. tecta (small cane or switch cane), of the southern U.S.

the stem of a raspberry or blackberry.

sugarcane.

a rod used for flogging.

a slender cylinder or rod, as of sealing wax or glass.

verb (used with object), caned, can·ing.

to flog with a cane.

to furnish or make with cane: to cane chairs.

Origin of cane

1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French < Latin canna < Greek kánna < Semitic; compare Akkadian qanū, Hebrew qāneh reed

OTHER WORDS FROM cane

cane·like, adjective can·y, adjective re·cane, verb (used with object), re·caned, re·can·ing. un·caned, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for switch cane (1 of 2)

cane ¹

/ (keɪn) /

noun

the long jointed pithy or hollow flexible stem of the bamboo, rattan, or any similar plant
any plant having such a stem

strips of such stems, woven or interlaced to make wickerwork, the seats and backs of chairs, etc
(as modifier)a cane chair

the woody stem of a reed, young grapevine, blackberry, raspberry, or loganberry

any of several grasses with long stiff stems, esp Arundinaria gigantea of the southeastern US

a flexible rod with which to administer a beating as a punishment, as to schoolboys

a slender rod, usually wooden and often ornamental, used for support when walking; walking stick

See sugar cane

a slender rod or cylinder, as of glass

verb (tr)

to whip or beat with or as if with a cane

to make or repair with cane

informal to defeat we got well caned in the match

cane it slang to do something with great power, force, or speed or consume something such as alcohol in large quantities you can do it in ten minutes if you really cane it

Derived forms of cane

caner, noun

Word Origin for cane

C14: from Old French, from Latin canna, from Greek kanna, of Semitic origin; related to Arabic qanāh reed

British Dictionary definitions for switch cane (2 of 2)

cane ²

/ (keɪn) /

noun

dialect a female weasel

Word Origin for cane

C18: of unknown origin

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

switch cane

noun

Origin of switch cane

Words nearby switch cane

Definition for switch cane (2 of 2)

noun

verb (used with object), caned, can·ing.

Origin of cane

OTHER WORDS FROM cane

British Dictionary definitions for switch cane (1 of 2)

noun

verb (tr)

Derived forms of cane

Word Origin for cane

British Dictionary definitions for switch cane (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for cane