[f. CANE sb.1]
1. trans. To beat with a cane as a punishment.
1667. Jer. Taylor, Serm., v. 89 (L.). That it be esteemed … more shame to fornicate than to be caned.
1715. De Foe, Fam. Instruct., I. iv. (1841), Wks. I. 73. I’ll cane the rascal if he don’t.
1812. D’Israeli, Calam. Auth. (1867), 142. To execute martial law, by caning the critic.
1825. Macaulay, Ess. (1851), I. 25. Dressed up in uniforms, caned into skill.
2. To drive (a lesson) into (a person) with the cane.
1866. Pall Mall Gaz., 27 Sept., 3/2. I had a little Greek caned into me in early life.
3. To fit or set (a chair, etc.) with cane.
1885. Leisure Ho., Jan., 47/1. Women and children … caning or rushing the ‘bottoms.’
