dumb cane
- noun
- /dʌm keɪn/
:
caña tonta
- If you're considering adding a dumb cane to your collection, remember to handle it carefully, as it can be harmful if eaten.
Examples
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Many people enjoy growing dumb cane indoors, but it's important to keep it out of reach of pets and children due to its toxic properties.
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There is also a species of dumb cane (Dieffenbachia) that is about three feet high and grows with stems so close together that getting through them is nearly impossible.
Academic text (1995) -
Dumb Cane
Blog text (29) -
The beautiful leaves of the dumb cane make it a popular choice for home decor, though its sap can cause throat swelling if ingested.
Synonyms
A large tropical house plant with green leaves that can cause tongue and throat swelling when touched or eaten
An indoor plant with large dark leaves that can make your tongue and throat swell if eaten
Surface Forms
Morphology
dumb + cane
The name combines 'dumb' (mute) and 'cane' (a plant/stem), so a learner who knows both words could plausibly infer this refers to a plant that causes silence or speech loss, making the basic idea partly recoverable. However, the specific botanical referent and the precise toxic effect (tongue/throat swelling) are lexicalized and not fully predictable from the parts, so full understanding requires prior exposure.
Etymology
Dumb cane got its name from a simple image: its poisonous sap can swell your tongue and throat so you cannot speak and are 'silent', so dumb means 'silent' and cane refers to its cane-like stem. That's why the name now points to a plant that can be dangerous if eaten.
