1. Plural of ferula; thin rods or sticks used for punishment, especially in schools.
Usage: archaic; historical
2. Plural of ferula; splints or supports used in medical treatment to immobilize a limb or joint.
Usage: medical

Examples

• In medieval schools, teachers kept ferulas on their desks to discipline unruly students.
• The strict headmaster was known for using ferulas to punish misbehavior.
• The doctor applied ferulas to the patient's fractured arm to keep it immobile.
• Modern medicine has largely replaced wooden ferulas with more comfortable plastic splints.
• Historical accounts describe ferulas as common instruments of corporal punishment in classrooms.