Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃-
Proto-Indo-European *-né-
Proto-Indo-European *ǵn̥néh₃ti
Proto-Germanic *kunnaną
Proto-West Germanic *kunnan
Old English cunnan
Middle English can
English can
From Middle English can, first and third person singular of connen, cunnen (“to be able, know how”), from Old English can(n), first and third person singular of cunnan (“to know how”), from Proto-West Germanic *kunnan, from Proto-Germanic *kunnaną, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- (whence also know). Doublet of con. See also: canny, cunning.
Meanings
(Manglish, Singlish) OK, sure; indicates approval or acknowledgment.
(Manglish, Singlish, with falling or rising-falling pitch) Used to convey reassurance.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
c'
alternative, pronunciation-spelling
lexicographic
canne
alternative, obsolete
lexicographic
kin
alternative, pronunciation-spelling
lexicographic
can en · PART · etymology 1
Pronunciation
/kæn/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation) without æ-raising
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃-
Proto-Indo-European *-né-
Proto-Indo-European *ǵn̥néh₃ti
Proto-Germanic *kunnaną
Proto-West Germanic *kunnan
Old English cunnan
Middle English can
English can
From Middle English can, first and third person singular of connen, cunnen (“to be able, know how”), from Old English can(n), first and third person singular of cunnan (“to know how”), from Proto-West Germanic *kunnan, from Proto-Germanic *kunnaną, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- (whence also know). Doublet of con. See also: canny, cunning.
Meanings
(Manglish, Singlish, interrogative) OK(?); used at the end of a question when seeking approval or acknowledgment.
I cut this wire, can?
Can you go collect them or not? The shop is at Jalan Sultan. I’m not free, otherwise I’ll do it myself. Can? 1989, Eleanor Wong, Jackson on a Jaunt, or, Mistaken Identities, page 8, lines 1–3:
It feels like a cheap gimmick to attract environmentalist types, when I don’t see any concrete policies to address that. If you don’t care, then don’t pretend to care leh. If you care, then make sure you got details to back you up, can? 2020 June 29, Poh Yong Han, “A Regular Singaporean’s Guide To Each Party’s Vision For The Economy”, in ricemedia.co, archived from the original on 23 May 2024:
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
c'
alternative, pronunciation-spelling
lexicographic
kin
alternative, pronunciation-spelling
lexicographic
canne
alternative, obsolete
lexicographic
can en · VERB · etymology 1
Pronunciation
/kæn/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation) without æ-raising
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃-
Proto-Indo-European *-né-
Proto-Indo-European *ǵn̥néh₃ti
Proto-Germanic *kunnaną
Proto-West Germanic *kunnan
Old English cunnan
Middle English can
English can
From Middle English can, first and third person singular of connen, cunnen (“to be able, know how”), from Old English can(n), first and third person singular of cunnan (“to know how”), from Proto-West Germanic *kunnan, from Proto-Germanic *kunnaną, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- (whence also know). Doublet of con. See also: canny, cunning.
Meanings
(auxiliary, defective) To know how to.
prouyng which eny clerk can or woel or mai make bi eny maner euydence of resoun or of Scripture, and namelich of resoun into the contrarie. 1449, Reginald Pecock, Represser of over-much weeting [blaming] of the Clergie:
I can play football.
She can speak English, French, and German.
If thou canst awake by four o' the clock, / I prithee call me. Sleep hath seized me wholly. 1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:
(auxiliary, defective) To be able to.
I can feel the baby moving inside me.
Can you hear that?
Turbines have been around for a long time—windmills and water wheels are early examples. The name comes from the Latin turbo, meaning vortex, and thus the defining property of a turbine is that a fluid or gas turns the blades of a rotor, which is attached to a shaft that can perform useful work. 2013 July–August, Lee S. Langston, “The Adaptable Gas Turbine”, in American Scientist:
Animals can experience emotions.
Can you remember your fifth birthday?
(auxiliary, defective, informal, modal) May; to be permitted or enabled to.
Can I use your pen?
You can go outside and play when you're finished with your homework.
(auxiliary, defective, modal) To have the potential to; to be possible for (someone or something) to.
Can it be Friday already?
The most rapid and most seductive transition in all human nature is that which attends the palliation of a ravenous appetite.[…]Can those harmless but refined fellow-diners be the selfish cads whose gluttony and personal appearance so raised your contemptuous wrath on your arrival? 1921, Ben Travers, chapter 5, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:
Teenagers can really try their parents' patience.
Teenagers can be so cruel, and nicknames cut deep. 2009, Annette Sym, Simply Too Good to be True, Greenleaf Book Group, →ISBN, page 4:
(auxiliary, defective, informal, modal) Used to form requests, typically polite.
Can we try that scene again?
Can you please come over here?
(obsolete, transitive) To know.
ca.1360-1387, William Langland, Piers Plowman
I can rimes of Robin Hood.
Let the priest in surplice white, / That defunctive music can. 1593, [William Shakespeare], Venus and Adonis, London: […] Richard Field, […], →OCLC:
ca.1360-1387, William Langland, Piers Plowman
I can no Latin, quod she.
(India, nonstandard, proscribed) To be (followed by a word like able, possible, allowed). third-person singular simple present indicative of can
Children in need of care and protection can allowed to be placed in foster care based on the orders of the CWC. The selection of the foster family is based on the family's ability, intent, capacity, and prior experience of taking care[…] 2018 February 15, Asha Bajpai, Child Rights in India: Law, Policy, and Practice, Oxford University Press, →ISBN:
Importance of Identifying Leaf: Identify Plants: If we can able to identify leaf, we can easily able to identify plants. 2011 November 29, Tai-hoon Kim, Hojjat Adeli, Carlos Ramos, Byeong-Ho Kang, Signal Processing, Image Processing and Pattern Recognition: International Conferences, SIP 2011, Held as Part of the Future Generation Information Technology Conference, FGIT 2011, in Conjunction with GDC 2011, Jeju Island, Korea, December 8-10, 2011. Proceedings, Springer Science & Business Media, →ISBN, page 114:
It can possible to design the ruleset refreshes that allow them to subsequently run at precise interludes and these keep informed. 2020 May 22, Pardeep Kumar, Vasaki Ponnusamy, Vishal Jain, Industrial Internet of Things and Cyber-Physical Systems: Transforming the Conventional to Digital: Transforming the Conventional to Digital, IGI Global, →ISBN, page 226:
(Manglish, Singlish, auxiliary, intransitive) To be able to or know how to (do something); an accompanying verb is not required if it is already inferable from context.
Can anot?
(Manglish, Singlish, intransitive) To be fine or acceptable; to be possible; (with liao or already) to be enough. Often used in conjunction with a variety of clause-final particles, e.g., lah, meh or one, to express different attitudes towards the subject matter.
When controversial KOL Sylvia Chan resurfaced in March as a life coach, the general online sentiment was, “Huh, can meh?” 2024 June 10, Kimberly Lim, “What’s With Singapore’s Surge in Self-Proclaimed Life Coaches?”, in ricemedia.co, archived from the original on 19 Sep 2024:
Can liao, don’t need to use so much glue.
We have been doing this for 50 years, we have shown you what we can do. If I say can, means can. […] 2015 September 5, Derrick Ho, Chew Hui Min, Lee Min Kok, Shea Driscoll, Nilanjana Sengupta, Melissa Heng, Ong Hwee Hwee, quoting Lee Hsien Loong, “GE2015: 5 things about the third night of rallies on Sept 4”, in The Straits Times:
It’s further exacerbated by well-intentioned but misguided relatives who say, “you’re from School X, can one lah”, or worse, those who associate the very identity of being a student in an elite academy into a label analogous with expectations of high achievements. 2021 August 5, Zat Astha, “The Lessons We’re Still Learning Too Slowly About Mental Health and Suicide”, in ricemedia.co, archived from the original on 11 Dec 2024:
scn putiri (to be able to; to know how to) · tr -abilmek (to be able to; to know how to) · ht ka (to be able to; to know how to) · et oskama (to be able to; to know how to) · gd faod (to be able to; to know how to) · lo ອາດຈະ (may) · bg мо́га (may) · sq mundem (may) · fi pystyä (to be able to; to know how to) · zh 能 (to be able to; to know how to) · pl umieć (to be able to; to know how to) · ak tumi (to be able to; to know how to) · rm puder (to be able to; to know how to) · fi voida (may) · pl móc (to be able to; to know how to) · id boleh (to be able to; to know how to) · fa قادر بودن (to be able to; to know how to) · it potere (to be able to; to know how to) · pt poder (may) · cy medru (to be able to; to know how to) · et võima (to be able to; to know how to) · sc podere (to be able to; to know how to) · dsb móc (to be able to; to know how to) · ro putea (may) · oc podre (to be able to; to know how to) · el δύναμαι (to be able to; to know how to) · de chöne (to be able to; to know how to) · frr kan (to be able to; to know how to) · liv võidõ (to be able to; to know how to) · sh smjeti (may) · la possum (to be able to; to know how to) · mk може (to be able to; to know how to) · ru мочь (to be able to; to know how to) · fur podê (to be able to; to know how to) · my နိုင် (to be able to; to know how to) · sc pori (to be able to; to know how to) · rm pudeir (to be able to; to know how to) · vec poder (to be able to; to know how to) · ppl weli (to be able to; to know how to) · txb yāt- (to be able to; to know how to) · he מְסֻגָּל (to be able to; to know how to) · ru смочь (to be able to; to know how to) · uk умі́ти (to be able to; to know how to) · sga ro- (to be able to; to know how to) · ga bheith in ann (to be able to; to know how to) · ca poguer (to be able to; to know how to) · sq muj (may) · sk môcť (to be able to; to know how to) · rm pudair (to be able to; to know how to) · be уме́ць (to be able to; to know how to) · he יָכֹל (may) · vi được (to be able to; to know how to) · ja -れる (to be able to; to know how to) · liv mȯistõ (to be able to; to know how to) · gd faod (may) · fi osata (to be able to; to know how to) · lv spēt (to be able to; to know how to) · ms bisa (to be able to; to know how to) · ar اِسْتَطَاعَ (may) · az bilmək (to be able to; to know how to) · lb duerfen (may) · gv jarg (may) · is mega (may) · hu -hat (may) · he יָכֹל (to be able to; to know how to) · de können (to be able to; to know how to) · he יכול (may) · zdj udjua (to be able to; to know how to) · ar قَدَرَ (to be able to; to know how to) · osx kunnan (to be able to; to know how to) · ht kab (to be able to; to know how to) · ht kapab (to be able to; to know how to) · hi सकना (to be able to; to know how to) · zh 可以 (may) · az bilmək (may) · lv prast (to be able to; to know how to) · es poder (may) · wa poleur (to be able to; to know how to) · cs smět (may) · zh 會得 /会得 (to be able to; to know how to) · hi समर्थ होना (to be able to; to know how to) · oc pòder (to be able to; to know how to) · nah huelīti (to be able to; to know how to) · zh 會凍 /会冻 (to be able to; to know how to) · sc potere (to be able to; to know how to) · fa امکان داشتن (may) · ast poder (to be able to; to know how to) · mn чадах (to be able to; to know how to) · otk 𐰆 (to be able to; to know how to) · ang mōtan (may) · ar اِسْتَطَاعَ (to be able to; to know how to) · km បាន (to be able to; to know how to) · nap putè (to be able to; to know how to) · as পাৰা (to be able to; to know how to) · tr -abilmek (may) · syl ꠙꠣꠞꠣ (to be able to; to know how to) · th ย่อม (may) · pt conseguir (to be able to; to know how to) · vo kanön (to be able to; to know how to) · ar مُمْكِن (may) · ro putea (to be able to; to know how to) · he מסוגל (to be able to; to know how to) · zh 會當 /会当 (to be able to; to know how to) · wa sawè (to be able to; to know how to) · km អាច...បាន (may) · mn ᠴᠢᠳᠠᠬᠤ (to be able to; to know how to) · ca poder (may) · gag bilmää (to be able to; to know how to) · ar قدر (to be able to; to know how to) · gil kona (to be able to; to know how to) · ru мочь (may) · esu -yugnga (to be able to; to know how to) · es saber (to be able to; to know how to) · sh умети (to be able to; to know how to) · th ได้ (to be able to; to know how to) · sc porrere (to be able to; to know how to) · ppl hueli (to be able to; to know how to) · fi saada (may) · sh umjeti (to be able to; to know how to) · el μπορώ (may) · sc podiri (to be able to; to know how to) · tr -ebilmek (to be able to; to know how to) · sq mundem (to be able to; to know how to) · uk зумі́ти (to be able to; to know how to) · ko ...을/ᄅ 수 있다 (to be able to; to know how to) · as পৰা (to be able to; to know how to) · br gallout (to be able to; to know how to) · it potere (may) · sl moči (to be able to; to know how to) · et võima (may) · el μπορώ (to be able to; to know how to) · gd 's urrainn do (to be able to; to know how to) · vi có lẽ (may) · lb kënnen (to be able to; to know how to) · cs moci (to be able to; to know how to) · zh 會使 /会使 (may) · kn ಬಹುದು (to be able to; to know how to) · eu ahal izan (to be able to; to know how to) · fa توانستن (to be able to; to know how to) · sc podi (to be able to; to know how to) · an poder (to be able to; to know how to) · mi taea (to be able to; to know how to) · ga tig le (to be able to; to know how to) · za maenz (to be able to; to know how to) · be змагчы́ (to be able to; to know how to) · th เป็น (to be able to; to know how to) · ga is féidir le (to be able to; to know how to) · frr kön (to be able to; to know how to) · stq konne (to be able to; to know how to) · eo povi (to be able to; to know how to) · es poder (to be able to; to know how to) · lb dierfen (may) · dlm potar (to be able to; to know how to) · lo ໄດ້ (to be able to; to know how to) · eo rajti (may) · he יכול (to be able to; to know how to) · ang cunnan (to be able to; to know how to) · wa saveur (to be able to; to know how to) · khb ᦺᦡᧉ (to be able to; to know how to) · sv kunna (may) · de dürfen (may) · lb däerfen (may) · zh 會 /会 (to be able to; to know how to) · gl poder (to be able to; to know how to) · kw gallos (to be able to; to know how to) · uk змогти́ (to be able to; to know how to) · de können (may) · id bisa (to be able to; to know how to) · fr pouvoir (may) · yue 識得 /识得 (to be able to; to know how to) · fur podê (may) · fo kunna (to be able to; to know how to) · vi có thể (to be able to; to know how to) · th ย่อม (to be able to; to know how to) · got 𐌺𐌿𐌽𐌽𐌰𐌽 (to be able to; to know how to) · got 𐌼𐌰𐌲𐌰𐌽 (to be able to; to know how to) · az bacarmaq (to be able to; to know how to) · da måtte (may) · hu -het (may) · sh умјети (to be able to; to know how to) · fr pouvoir (to be able to; to know how to) · frp povêr (to be able to; to know how to) · sv kunna (to be able to; to know how to) · io povar (may) · hi सकना (may) · is geta (to be able to; to know how to) · be суме́ць (to be able to; to know how to) · nl mogen (may) · cs umět (to be able to; to know how to) · zza şikenaene (to be able to; to know how to) · hy կարողանալ (may) · ms boleh (may) · no kunne (to be able to; to know how to) · rop gin (to be able to; to know how to) · ms boleh (to be able to; to know how to) · la sim (may) · ga féad (to be able to; to know how to) · sh umeti (to be able to; to know how to) · ca poder (to be able to; to know how to) · ml കഴിയും (to be able to; to know how to) · zh 能夠 /能够 (to be able to; to know how to) · be ўмець (to be able to; to know how to) · sh моћи (to be able to; to know how to) · ka შეუძლია (to be able to; to know how to) · ang magan (to be able to; to know how to) · sq muj (to be able to; to know how to) · no kunne (may) · vi có thể (may) · ar قدر (to be able to; to know how to) · hu tud (to be able to; to know how to) · qu atiy (to be able to; to know how to) · bg мо́га (to be able to; to know how to) · gl poder (may) · mt seta’ (to be able to; to know how to) · yi קענען (to be able to; to know how to) · ar أَمْكَنَ (to be able to; to know how to) · pt poder (to be able to; to know how to) · pt saber (to be able to; to know how to) · bg уме́я (to be able to; to know how to) · ur سکنا (may) · pl móc (may) · lb kënnen (may) · pl potrafić (to be able to; to know how to) · cy cael (may) · mk може (may) · la possum (may) · tr -ebilmek (may) · grc δύναμαι (to be able to; to know how to) · ur سکنا (to be able to; to know how to) · roa-gal póeir (to be able to; to know how to) · ta தெரி (to be able to; to know how to) · hy կարողանալ (to be able to; to know how to) · ru уме́ть (to be able to; to know how to) · sl smeti (may) · ar قدر (to be able to; to know how to) · be магчы́ (to be able to; to know how to) · ja できる (to be able to; to know how to) · frp possêr (to be able to; to know how to) · mt forsi (may) · ru быть в состоя́нии (to be able to; to know how to) · uk вмі́ти (to be able to; to know how to) · rup pot (to be able to; to know how to) · osx mugan (may) · fa توانستن (may) · th สามารถ (to be able to; to know how to) · ms dapat (Sarawak) (to be able to; to know how to) · da kunne (to be able to; to know how to) · zh 能 (may) · fi voida (to be able to; to know how to) · sh moći (to be able to; to know how to) · cy gallu (to be able to; to know how to) · nl kunnen (to be able to; to know how to) · ofs kunna (to be able to; to know how to) · nds könen (to be able to; to know how to) · ka შეიძლება (may) · lt galėti (to be able to; to know how to) · hy կրնալ (to be able to; to know how to) · da kunne (may) · lv varēt (to be able to; to know how to) · uk могти́ (to be able to; to know how to) · gv jarg (to be able to; to know how to) · frr koone (to be able to; to know how to) · ta முடி (to be able to; to know how to)
From Middle English canne, from Old English canne (“glass, container, cup, jar”), from Proto-Germanic *kannǭ (“can, tankard, mug, cup”).
Meanings
A container or vessel, especially for liquids, usually made of metal.
I keep a can of fuel for emergencies.
A container or vessel, especially for liquids, usually made of metal. ▸ A sealed metal container, cylindrical or cuboid in form, typically used to store preserved foods.
Soup in a can lasts for years.
A container used to carry and dispense water for plants (a watering can).
(archaic) A chamber pot.
(US, archaic, slang) A chamber pot. ▸ a toilet or lavatory.
Shit or get off the can.
1977-1980, Lou Sullivan, personal diary, quoted in 2019, Ellis Martin, Zach Ozma (editors), We Both Laughed In Pleasure
If he was going to hide out in the can, he can just stay there & sleep in the tub.
I didn't have anything special to do, so I went down to the can and chewed the rag with him while he was shaving. 1951 July 16, J[erome] D[avid] Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye, Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown and Company, →OCLC, page 35:
Bob's in the can. You can wait a few minutes or just leave it with me.
(Canada, US, childish, slang, vulgar) Buttocks.
(Canada, US, slang, vulgar) The breasts of a woman.
(slang) Jail or prison.
Bob’s in the can. He won’t be back for a few years.
The undercover cop never liked the Monkey Man / Even back in childhood, he wanted to see him in the can 1988, The Traveling Wilburys, “Tweeter and the Monkey Man”, in The Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 1:
(in-plural, slang) Headphones.
(archaic) A drinking cup.
Fill the cup and fill the can: / Have a rouse before the morn: / Every minute dies a man, / Every minute one is born. 1842, Alfred Tennyson, “A Vision of Sin”, in Poems. […], volume II, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 218:
SIR ANDREW: Nay, my troth, I know not: but I know, to be up late is to be up late. / SIR TOBY: A false conclusion: I hate it as an unfilled can. c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]:
VVhen the vulgar ſort / Sit on their Ale-bench, vvith their cups and kannes, / Matters of ſtate be not their common talke, / Nor pure religion by their lips prophande. 1600, [Michael Drayton, Richard Hathwaye, Anthony Munday, Robert Wilson], The First Part of the True and Honorable Historie, of the Life of Sir John Old-castle, the Good Lord Cobham. […], London: […] [V[alentine] S[immes]] for Thomas Pauier, […], →OCLC:
A cylindrical buoy or marker used to denote a port-side lateral mark
A chimney pot.
(in-plural, slang) An E-meter used in Scientology auditing.
(US, slang) An ounce (or sometimes, two ounces) of marijuana.
[…] prosecution for selling and giving away marijuana, the evidence clearly constituted substantial proof that a package purchased by defendant contained marijuana where he requested "four cans" of marijuana to be delivered to himself and […] 1970, California. Supreme Court, Reports of Cases Determined in the Supreme Court of the State of California:
A protective cover for the fuel element in a nuclear reactor.
jerrycan (Hyponyms of can (Etymology 2)) · beer can (Hyponyms of can (Etymology 2)) · garbage can (Hyponyms of can (Etymology 2)) · aerosol can (Hyponyms of can (Etymology 2)) · watering can (Hyponyms of can (Etymology 2)) · trash can (Hyponyms of can (Etymology 2)) · soda can (Hyponyms of can (Etymology 2)) · billycan (Hyponyms of can (Etymology 2)) · tin can (Hyponyms of can (Etymology 2)) · sprinkling can (Hyponyms of can (Etymology 2)) · lading-can (Hyponyms of can (Etymology 2)) · spray can (Hyponyms of can (Etymology 2))
no rompe (buttocks) · fr bidon (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · ar تنكة (a tin-plate canister) · mi tini (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · nn kanne (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · ro cutie de tinichea (a tin-plate canister) · eo ladskatolo (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · et kemmerg (non-offensive slang for toilet — see also toilet) · gd cana (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · et käimla (non-offensive slang for toilet — see also toilet) · ki mũkebe (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · no bak (buttocks) · ru я́годицы (buttocks) · fa قوطی (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · de Konservendose (a tin-plate canister) · fi purkki (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · et kastekann (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · fa قوطی (a tin-plate canister) · fr boule (buttocks) · lo ກະປ່ອງ (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · zh 屁股 (buttocks) · lb Dous (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · cs konvička (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · ms tin (a tin-plate canister) · ko 캔 (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · id kaleng (a tin-plate canister) · yi קענדל (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · es regadera (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · sv kanna (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · ar علبة (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · eo pispoto (non-offensive slang for toilet — see also toilet) · tr teneke kutu (a tin-plate canister) · nb kanne (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · esu paankaq (a tin-plate canister) · nb boks (a tin-plate canister) · sv konserv (a tin-plate canister) · et näkk (buttocks) · gl cacharela (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · th กระป๋องรดน้ำ (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · et purk (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · fi säilyketölkki (a tin-plate canister) · ka კალის (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · uk консе́рвна ба́нка (a tin-plate canister) · de Kanne (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · mk лименка (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · hu konzervdoboz (a tin-plate canister) · ckb قوتو (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · de Arschbacken (buttocks) · ru консе́рва (a tin-plate canister) · sl konzerva (a tin-plate canister) · nl gieter (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · gl tanque (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · sk plechovka (a tin-plate canister) · it lattina (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · ta கன்னல் (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · nl conservenblik (a tin-plate canister) · ru по́па (buttocks) · bo ལྕགས་ཊིན་ (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · ast bote (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · de Kanister (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · bg консе́рва (a tin-plate canister) · pdt Kaun (a tin-plate canister) · ko 깡통 (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · chr ᏔᎷᎩᏍᎩ (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · fr fesses (buttocks) · pl kanister (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · th กระป๋อง (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · he קֻפְסַת־שִׁמּוּרִים (a tin-plate canister) · nb kanne (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · ast lata (a tin-plate canister) · ar صَفِيحَة (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · ru консе́рвная ба́нка (a tin-plate canister) · ckb تەنەکە (a tin-plate canister) · ko 깡통 (a tin-plate canister) · pl polewaczka (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · sk kanvica (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · zh 罐頭 /罐头 (a tin-plate canister) · he פַּחִית (a tin-plate canister) · ru жбан (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · fi tölkki (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · lb Géisskan (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · da kande (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · lt konservas (a tin-plate canister) · be бляша́нка (a tin-plate canister) · et vets (non-offensive slang for toilet — see also toilet) · bg тенеки́ена кути́я (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · hy անագ (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · an cachuelo (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · mk канта (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · de Pobacken (buttocks) · ru бидо́н (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · sq kanaçe (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · th ก้น (buttocks) · sk kanva (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · sl pločevinka (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · zh 金屬容器 /金属容器 (a tin-plate canister) · ca llauna (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · za guenqdaeuz (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · tyz boóc (a tin-plate canister) · id kaleng (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · sl pločevinka (a tin-plate canister) · it chiappe (buttocks) · tr konserve kutusu (a tin-plate canister) · cs plechovka (a tin-plate canister) · nb do (non-offensive slang for toilet — see also toilet) · de Blechdose (a tin-plate canister) · nl blikje (a tin-plate canister) · ro doză (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · et karp (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · lt skardinė (a tin-plate canister) · ar تنكة (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · uk бляша́на ба́нка (a tin-plate canister) · de Gießkanne (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · ms kupi (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · ckb تەنەکە (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · pt lata (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · es lata (a tin-plate canister) · ms tin (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · pl konewka (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · ru ле́йка (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · mk конзе́рва (a tin-plate canister) · lv skārdene (a tin-plate canister) · an cozero (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · tr teneke kutu (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · pt bunda (buttocks) · it annaffiatoio (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · et tuhar (buttocks) · sv vattenkanna (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · mi kēna (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · tr kıç kanadı (buttocks) · th กระป๋อง (a tin-plate canister) · hu kanna (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · lb Biddong (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · cs konev (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · sw kopo (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · fi vessa (non-offensive slang for toilet — see also toilet) · lv kārba (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · tr sulama kovası (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · el κουτάκι (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · sk konzerva (a tin-plate canister) · pt lata (a tin-plate canister) · nn kanne (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · da dåse (a tin-plate canister) · fr chiottes (non-offensive slang for toilet — see also toilet) · km កំប៉ុង (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · cs konvice (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · an caxot (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · gl tango (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · nl blik (a tin-plate canister) · mn лааз (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · is niðursuðudós (a tin-plate canister) · da vandkande (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · uk бляша́нка (a tin-plate canister) · eo necesejo (non-offensive slang for toilet — see also toilet) · fr arrosoir (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · lb Béchs (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · ru жо́па (buttocks) · mi kēne (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · it scatoletta (a tin-plate canister) · ar صَفِيحَة (a tin-plate canister) · ast regador (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · bg консе́рвна кути́я (a tin-plate canister) · nn boks (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · yi פּושקע (a tin-plate canister) · et kemps (non-offensive slang for toilet — see also toilet) · ko 통조림 (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · nah tepoztecontli (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · ja 缶 (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · za gvandouz (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · he פַּחִית (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · ka თუნუქის (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · nb hermetikkboks (a tin-plate canister) · ja 缶 (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · da balder (buttocks) · et kann (buttocks) · et kannid (buttocks) · pl dupa (buttocks) · ro conservă (a tin-plate canister) · sv konservburk (a tin-plate canister) · lb Béchs (a tin-plate canister) · sk krhla (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · zh 罐頭 /罐头 (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · nl kan (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · es lata (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · da dåse (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · fi kastelukannu (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · mn лааз (a tin-plate canister) · pt vaso (non-offensive slang for toilet — see also toilet) · is dós (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · ckb قوتو (a tin-plate canister) · ru за́дница (buttocks) · fr boîte de conserve (a tin-plate canister) · cs plechovka (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · fi takamus (buttocks) · ast lata (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · ms kaleng (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · pt traseiro (buttocks) · pl pośladki (buttocks) · el κονσέρβα (a tin-plate canister) · de Klo (non-offensive slang for toilet — see also toilet) · km កំប៉ង់ (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · tr emzikli kova (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · pt regador (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · fo blikk (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · eo ladskatolo (a tin-plate canister) · ast regadera (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · mn цагаан тугалга (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · gd cana (a tin-plate canister) · et kannikas (buttocks) · an caxoloto (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · gl canada (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · ja 缶 (a tin-plate canister) · nb doskål (non-offensive slang for toilet — see also toilet) · nv yadiizíní (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · pl bańka (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · lb Dous (a tin-plate canister) · eo pugo (buttocks) · zh 容器 (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · tr kutu (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · mr कॅन (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · et konserv (a tin-plate canister) · id kaleng (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · vi lon (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · de WC (non-offensive slang for toilet — see also toilet) · hu konzerv (a tin-plate canister) · hu doboz (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · fr miches (buttocks) · bg ле́йка (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · nrf canne (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · pl puszka (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · sl škropilnica (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · fr canette (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · cy can (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · he קופסת שימורים (a tin-plate canister) · mk кофа (a container used to carry and dispense water for plants) · fr WC (non-offensive slang for toilet — see also toilet) · cs konzerva (a tin-plate canister) · nb boks (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · de Blechdose (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · sv burk (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · lv bundža (a tin-plate canister) · pl puszka (a tin-plate canister) · as টেমা (a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids) · ar علبة (a tin-plate canister) · nv yadiizíní (a tin-plate canister)
From Middle English canne, from Old English canne (“glass, container, cup, jar”), from Proto-Germanic *kannǭ (“can, tankard, mug, cup”).
Meanings
(transitive) To seal in a can.
They canned air to sell as a novelty to tourists.
(transitive) To preserve by heating and sealing in a jar or can.
They spent August canning fruit and vegetables.
(transitive) To discard, scrap or terminate (an idea, project, etc.).
He canned the whole project because he thought it would fail.
My next stop is Oxford, which has also grown with the addition of new platforms to accommodate the Chiltern Railways service to London via Bicester - although, short sightedly, the planned electrification from Paddington was canned. Evidence of the volte-face can be seen along the line at places such as Radley, where mast piles are already sunk or lie discarded at the lineside. 2020 December 2, Paul Bigland, “My weirdest and wackiest Rover yet”, in Rail, pages 67–68:
(slang, transitive) To shut up.
Maurrant: Aw, can all that talk! You been listenin’ to them bolshevikis, that’s the trouble. 1929, Elmer Rice, Street Scene, New York City: Samuel French, Act II, page 146:
Can your gob.
(US, euphemistic, transitive) To fire or dismiss an employee.
The boss canned him for speaking out.
As a result of his refusal, the employee was subsequently canned in 2015 on the basis of "professional inadequacy" and failing to embody the "party" atmosphere that the consultancy was trying to cultivate. 2022 November 25, Ben Cost, “Man wins legal right to be 'boring' at work, gets $3K from company”, in New York Post, NYP Holdings, archived from the original on 25 Nov 2022:
(slang, transitive) To hole the ball.
I thought I had canned it, but it just missed, and I tapped in the second one for a par. 1958, Dick Mayer, How to Think and Swing Like a Golf Champion, page 186:
(transitive) To cover (the fuel element in a nuclear reactor) with a protective cover.
zh 關閉 /关闭 (to shut up) · zh 解雇 (to fire or dismiss an employee) · pt jogar fora (to discard) · eo maldungi (to fire or dismiss an employee) · da holde mund (to shut up) · es descartar (to discard) · fi tukkia (to shut up) · sl zavreči (to discard) · bg захвърлям (to discard) · sv konservera (to preserve) · sv knipa igen (to shut up) · th ปลด (to fire or dismiss an employee) · mk конзерви́ра (to preserve) · de die Klappe halten (to shut up) · es echar (to fire or dismiss an employee) · fi potkaista (to fire or dismiss an employee) · pt demitir (to fire or dismiss an employee) · it inscatolare (to preserve) · pt mandar embora (to fire or dismiss an employee) · de rausschmeißen (to fire or dismiss an employee) · fi hylätä (to discard) · es enlatar (to preserve) · mk отпушта (to fire or dismiss an employee) · fr limoger (to fire or dismiss an employee) · ru консерви́ровать (to preserve) · zh 保存 (to preserve) · es cerrar (to shut up) · eo silentigi (to shut up) · da henkoge (to preserve) · pt calar (to shut up) · da fyre (to fire or dismiss an employee) · eo enladigi (to preserve) · ms pecat (to fire or dismiss an employee) · sl odpustiti (to fire or dismiss an employee) · sv stänga igen (to shut up) · da smide ud (to discard) · it scartare (to discard) · de den Mund halten (to shut up) · es despedir (to fire or dismiss an employee) · it licenziare (to fire or dismiss an employee) · th เย็บปาก (to shut up) · da konservere (to preserve) · kk консервілеу (to preserve) · pt descartar (to discard) · bg уволнявам (to fire or dismiss an employee) · pl wylać (z pracy) (to fire or dismiss an employee) · hy պահածոյացնել (to preserve) · sl konzervirati (to preserve) · it tacere (to shut up) · nl inblikken (to preserve) · sv kicka (to fire or dismiss an employee) · fr jeter (to discard) · fr virer (to fire or dismiss an employee) · eo silenti (to shut up) · da afskedige (to fire or dismiss an employee) · nl conserveren (to preserve) · ru законсерви́ровать (to preserve) · zh 丟棄 /丢弃 (to discard) · nl afvoeren (to discard) · th ทิ้ง (to discard) · de einmachen (to preserve) · de abbrechen (to discard) · ms mengetinkan (to preserve) · nl stil houden (to shut up) · sl odvreči (to discard) · he סתם (to shut up) · bg консервирам (to preserve) · de kündigen (to fire or dismiss an employee) · pl konserwować (to preserve) · fi purkittaa (to preserve) · fr conserver (to preserve) · it chiudere (to shut up) · sv sparka (to fire or dismiss an employee) · pt enlatar (to preserve) · ca enllaunar (to preserve) · fr se taire (to shut up) · he פיטר (to fire or dismiss an employee) · sl utihniti (to shut up) · sv lägga in (to preserve) · de feuern (to fire or dismiss an employee) · el κονσερβοποιώ (to preserve) · cs konzervovat (to preserve)