Standard Lemma guide

ferule

noun · verb · 3 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈfɛɹuːl/
  • /ˈfɛɹəl/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɛɹəl
  • homophone: ferrule

1

noun

Meaning 1

A ruler-shaped instrument, generally used to slap naughty children on the hand.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: historical

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: ferula

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To punish with a ferule.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a switch (a stick or cane or flat paddle) used to punish children

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: switch

History

Etymology

From Middle French ferule (modern French férule), from Latin ferula (“giant fennel”). Doublet of ferula.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: fèrula — ruler-shaped instrument
  • Dutch: plak — ruler-shaped instrument
  • French: férule — ruler-shaped instrument
  • Latin: ferula — ruler-shaped instrument
  • Portuguese: palmatória — ruler-shaped instrument
  • Russian: ферула (ferula) — ruler-shaped instrument
  • Spanish: férula — ruler-shaped instrument
  • Swedish: färla — ruler-shaped instrument
  • Turkish: değnek — ruler-shaped instrument
  • Ottoman Turkish: دكنك (değenek) — ruler-shaped instrument
  • Ottoman Turkish: صوپه (sopa) — ruler-shaped instrument