Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cane” come from?

Cane comes from Middle English cane, from Old French cane, from Latin canna, from Ancient Greek κάννα, from Akkadian 𒄀, ultimately from Sumerian 𒄀𒈾, a reed plant.

cane (English): A plant with simple stems, like bamboo or sugar...

Definitions

  1. A plant with simple stems, like bamboo or sugar...

Ancestry of “cane”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchcannecane; stick; peg; leg; rod; fishing rod
2Italiancannacane; barrel; rod
3LatincannaA reed, cane; Anything made of reed or cane;...
4Ancient Greekκάνναgiant reed; reed mat
5Akkadian𒄀reed; a certain unit of length
6Sumerian𒄀reed; a certain unit of length

Words derived from “cane”

  • cany
  • canebrake
  • caner
  • canefield
  • canelike
  • dumbcane
  • canegrass
  • rivercane
  • caneland
  • caneware
  • recane
  • canegrub
  • caneworking
  • Matagorda County
  • canefruit
  • canes
  • kejn
Every word from Sumerian 𒄀 →