ferule

1
[ fer-uhl, -ool ]
See synonyms for ferule on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. Also ferula. a rod, cane, or flat piece of wood for punishing children, especially by striking them on the hand.

verb (used with object),fer·uled, fer·ul·ing.
  1. to punish with a ferule.

Origin of ferule

1
1375–1425; late Middle English ferula, ferul(e) giant fennel <Latin ferula schoolmaster's rod (literally, stalk of giant fennel); replacing Old English ferele<Latin

Other definitions for ferule (2 of 2)

ferule2
[ fer-uhl, -ool ]

noun, verb (used with object),fer·uled, fer·ul·ing.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use ferule in a sentence

  • For this reason a little enlargement between the ferules should be made, to compensate for the non-elasticity of the metal.

    Fishing With The Fly | Charles F. Orvis and Others
  • There are two deep grooves, or ferules, cut midway of their length, a distinctive characteristic of the modern flute paho.

  • I have constantly met with fools who would boast of the days of pensums, ferules and crusts of dry bread.

    Ten Years Later | Alexandre Dumas, Pere
  • It was fixed to the head by ferules, or by pegs, or by means of a socket.

    History of Julius Caesar Vol. 2 of 2 | Napoleon III, Emperor of the French, 1808-1873.
  • These are the masters who instruct us without rods and ferules, without hard words and anger, without clothes or money.

British Dictionary definitions for ferule (1 of 2)

ferule1

/ (ˈfɛruːl, -rəl) /


noun
  1. a flat piece of wood, such as a ruler, used in some schools to cane children on the hand

verb
  1. (tr) rare to punish with a ferule

Origin of ferule

1
C16: from Latin ferula giant fennel, whip, rod; the stalk of the plant was used for punishment

British Dictionary definitions for ferule (2 of 2)

ferule2

/ (ˈfɛruːl, -rəl) /


noun
  1. a variant spelling of ferrule

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012