Standard Lemma guide

cangue

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /kæŋ/
  • rhymes with -æŋ

1

noun

Meaning 1

A heavy wooden collar or yoke borne on the shoulders and enclosing the neck and arms, formerly used in East Asia to punish thieves and other criminals.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

an instrument of punishment formerly used in China for petty criminals; consists of a heavy wooden collar enclosing the neck and arms

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: instrument of punishment

History

Etymology

From French cangue, from Portuguese canga.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 枷 (jiā) — heavy wooden collar or yoke
  • Chinese Mandarin: 木枷 (mùjiā) — heavy wooden collar or yoke
  • Chinese Mandarin: 枷鎖 /枷锁 (jiāsuǒ) — heavy wooden collar or yoke
  • Finnish: häpeälauta — heavy wooden collar or yoke
  • French: cangue — heavy wooden collar or yoke
  • German: Holzkragen — heavy wooden collar or yoke
  • Japanese: 枷 (kase) — heavy wooden collar or yoke
  • Japanese: 首枷 (kubikase) — heavy wooden collar or yoke
  • Norwegian: vedkrage — heavy wooden collar or yoke
  • Spanish: canga — heavy wooden collar or yoke
  • Vietnamese: gông — heavy wooden collar or yoke