ETYM Old Eng. cane, canne, Old Fren. cane, French canne, Latin canna, from Greek kanna, kanne; prob. of Semitic origin; cf. Hebrew qâneh reed. Related to Canister, canon, Cannon.
1. A strong slender often flexible stem as of bamboos, reeds, rattans, or sugar cane.
2. Something people can lean on to help them walk.
3. Used to hit students as punishment.
Reedlike stem of various plants such as the sugar cane, bamboo, and, in particular, the group of palms called rattans, consisting of the genus Calamus and its allies. Their slender stems are dried and used for making walking sticks, baskets, and furniture.

To beat with a cane; SYN. flog, lambaste, lambast.