Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
CANE
I. noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Old Occitan cana, from Latin canna, from Greek kanna, of Semitic origin; akin to Akkadian qanū reed, Hebrew qāneh
Date: 14th century
1. a. a hollow or pithy and usually slender and flexible jointed stem (as of a reed), any of various slender woody stems, any of various tall woody grasses or reeds: as, any of a genus ( Arundinaria ) of coarse grasses, sugarcane , sorghum , cane dressed for use: as, a cane walking stick, a cane or rod for flogging, rattan , a tiny glass rod used in decorative glasswork (as in millefiori and paperweights),
II. transitive verb (caned; caning)
Date: 1662
to beat with a cane , to weave or furnish with cane