Cane

Cane, a term sometimes indiscriminately applied to any small and smooth rod, of the thickness of a walking-stick or less; but more correctly limited to the stems of the smaller palms and the larger grasses. We thus speak of sugar-cane, bamboo-cane, &c., among the latter; while among the former this name is particularly appropriated to the species of the genus Calamus, also called Rattan (the Malay name or a corruption of it). To this genus belong the canes largely imported from the tropical regions of the East for making bottoms of chairs, couches, &c. See BAMBOO, RATTAN, WALKING-STICK.