For similar words and other spellings and meanings, see Cane (disambiguation).

Contents 1 Walking stick 1.1 Origins 2 Uses as verb 3 See also 4 Sources, references, external links

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. Bamboo is a group of Woody perennial Evergreen Plants in the True grass family Poaceae, subfamily Rattan (from the Malay rotan) is the name for the roughly six hundred Species of palms in the tribe Calameae, native to tropical " Walking stick " may also refer to a stick insect, of the Order Phasmatodea, which uses camouflage to resemble a stick or twig Corporal punishment is the deliberate infliction of pain intended to Punish a person or change his/her behavior Depending on the use, it is left in its natural state or improved (e. g. , smoothened, varnished).

Walking stick

Main article: Walking stick

Around the 17th or 18th century, the cane took over for the sword as an essential part of the European gentleman's wardrobe, used primarily as a walking stick. " Walking stick " may also refer to a stick insect, of the Order Phasmatodea, which uses camouflage to resemble a stick or twig As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system A wardrobe (sometimes called an " armoire " is a standing closet used for storing Clothes. " Walking stick " may also refer to a stick insect, of the Order Phasmatodea, which uses camouflage to resemble a stick or twig 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 rattan (especially Malacca) with a rounded metal grip. Rattan (from the Malay rotan) is the name for the roughly six hundred Species of palms in the tribe Calameae, native to tropical The clouded cane, as in the quotation below, was made of Malacca and showed the patina of age:

Sir Plume, of amber snuff-box justly vain,

And the nice conduct of a clouded cane. Snuff is a type of smokeless Tobacco. There are several types used in different ways but traditionally it means Dry/European nasal snuff which is inhaled

- Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock

Some canes had specially weighted metalwork. The Rape of the Lock is a Mock-heroic Narrative poem written by Alexander Pope, first published anonymously in Lintot's Miscellany Other types of wood, such as hickory, are equally suitable. Trees in the genus Carya (from Ancient Greek κάρυον " Nut " are commonly known as Hickory.

Origins

Walking sticks started out as a necessary tool for the shepherd and traveler. A nice hefty stick was an excellent way to protect against thieves and to keep animals in line. Over time, the walking stick gradually began to be known as a symbol for power and strength, and eventually authority and social prestige. Rulers of many cultures, past and present, have carried some form of walking stick or staff. (See more at Ceremonial mace)

In the United States, presidents have often carried canes and received them as gifts. The ceremonial mace is a highly ornamented staff of metal and wood carried before a sovereign or other high official in civic ceremonies by a Mace-bearer, intended The Smithsonian has a cane given to George Washington by Ben Franklin. George Washington (February 22 1732 December 14 1799 served as the first President of the United States of America (1789&ndash1797 and led the Benjamin Franklin ( April 17 1790 was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. It features a gold handle in the shape of a Phrygian cap. The Phrygian cap is a soft red conical cap with the top pulled forward worn in antiquity by the inhabitants of Phrygia, a region of central Anatolia In our time, walking sticks are usually only seen with formal attire. Collectors of canes look for the old, the new and the novel (such as canes made from the penes of bison or bulls). Retractable canes that reveal such properties as hidden compartments, pool sticks, or blades are popular among collectors. Handles have been made from many substances, both natural and manmade. Carved and decorated canes have turned the functional into the fantastic.

Some canes, known as "Tippling Canes," or "Tipplers," have hollowed-out compartments near the top where flasks or vials of alcohol could be hidden and sprung out on demand. A hip flask is a thin Flask for holding a Distilled beverage; its size and shape are suited to a Trouser Pocket. A vial (also phial) is a relatively small Glass vessel or Bottle, especially used to store Medication as liquids powders or in other forms like In Chemistry, an alcohol is any Organic compound in which a Hydroxyl group ( - O[[hydrogen H]]) is bound to a Carbon

When used as a mobility or stability aide, canes are generally used in the hand opposite the injury or weakness. This may appear counter-intuitive, but this allows the cane to be used for stability in a way that lets the user shift much of their weight onto the cane and away from their weaker side as they walk. Personal preference, or a need to hold the cane in their dominant hand, means some cane users choose to hold the cane on their injured side.

Uses as verb

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. Slang is the use of highly informal Words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's Dialect or Language. g. "Ah, that canes!")

Cane is sometimes used to describe furniture made of wicker. Furniture is the Mass noun for the movable objects which may support the human body (seating furniture and beds, provide storage or hold objects on horizontal Wicker is hard woven Fiber formed into a useful object Wicker is usually used for Baskets or Furniture.

See also

• Cane gun
• Swordstick

Sources, references, external links

• Modern use of the cane for fighting based on practical Close Quarter Combat techniques
• Agony&Ecstasy dictionary of flogging devices
• Fashionable Walking Canes & Walking Sticks - History of Canes Page Info (reprinted with permission)
• CorporalPunishment
• Walking-Stick Papers (Robert Cortes Holliday, 1918) - Project Gutenberg ebook
• Modern cane fighting based on Oriental techniques
• Reprinted early 1900s information about the Vigny cane and associated techniques
• Gadget Canes

A cane gun is a walking Cane with a hidden Gun built into it Cane guns were used as last-resort emergency weapons A swordstick or cane-sword is a Cane incorporating a concealed Blade.

© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic