Cane

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A cane is a long, straight wooden stick, generally of bamboo, Malacca (rattan), or some similar plant, mainly used as a support, such as a walking stick or as an instrument of punishment. Depending on the use it is left in its natural state or improved (e.g. smoothened, varnished).

1 Walking stick
2 Weapon
3 Disciplinary and coercive implement
4 Other uses of canes
5 Other meanings
6 Sources, references, external links

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Walking stick

Around the 17th or 18th century, the cane took over from the sword as an essential part of the European gentleman's wardrobe. In addition to its value as a decorative accessory, the cane also continued to fulfill some of the function of the sword as a weapon. The standard cane was Malacca with a rounded metal grip. Some canes had specially weighted metalwork. Other types of wood, such as hickory, are equally suitable.

Some canes have hollowed out compartments near the top where flask's or vials of alcohol can be hidden and spring out when needed.

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Weapon

It is apparently the case that a license was required to carry a cane in London during the 18th century, possibly because of the use as a weapon, in essence a fighting stick.

A particular type of walking stick was created, called Swordstick. This concealed a blade within the stem, which can be made to appear from a cane so as to convert it into a (normally hidden) weapon.

See the article La canne for the French martial art using the cane as a weapon. The cane also shows up in some styles of Eskrima, and Irish Bata.

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Disciplinary and coercive implement

Image:Rattan cane.jpg

Rattan canes especially are used to beat someone, generally on the buttocks or the palm of the hand, as a form of physical punishment, (often as a severe spanking, like a paddling) specifically known as caning (see that article for all details), both domestic and judicial, and traditional in various cultures, notably England and many nations of the Commonwealth.

The Hindi word lathi designates the circa 1.2 meter long and about 2.5 cm thick rattan rod, used by Indian police for riot control and (unofficial, even illegal) prison discipline. The verb used for this action is to lathi-charge/lathicharhe

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Other uses of canes

in gardening, bamboos are traditional strong, natural supports for growing plants and/or as markers
for marking out a piece of ground
durable bamboo species are still popular as a material for constructing furniture or in Asia buildings and as scaffolding
like the staff, the cane has been used -often above its supporting or other physical function(s)- as an attribute (e.g. swagger cane) or as a more prosaic symbol, e.g. the white cane for the blind

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Other meanings

The verb to cane means to use a cane, but can also be a positive attribute applied to an action to imply enthusiasm e.g. "I caned it!") (both transitive) or be used intransitively in modern English slang to express causing pain (e.g. "Ah, that canes!")

Cane is sometimes used to describe furniture made of wicker.

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