κανών κᾰνών, όνος, κάννα any straight rod or bar: in Hom. the κανόνες of a shield seem to have been two rods running across the hollow of the shield, through which the arm was passed. a rod used in weaving, the shuttle or quill, by which the threads of the woof (πηνίον) were passed between those of the warp (μίτος) , Il. a rule used by masons or carpenters, Eur., Xen., etc. a ruler, Anth. metaph., ἀκτὶς ἡλίου, κανὼν σαφής, Miltonʼs "long-levelled rule of light, " Eur. the beam or tongue of the balance, Anth. in pl. the keys or stops of the flute, Anth. metaph., like Lat. regula, norma, a rule, standard of excellence, Eur.;—in Chronology, κανόνες χρονικοί were chief epochs or eras, Plut.