noun
cane; walking stick; staff; wand
A stick used for support when walking, or a rod-like object carried as a symbol or tool. Can also refer to a magic wand in fantasy contexts.
祖父は杖をついて歩いている。
My grandfather walks with a cane.
魔法使いが杖を振ると、光が現れ
When the wizard waved his wand, a light appeared.
ステッキ is a Western-style walking stick, often used for fashion or hiking, while 杖 is a broader term that includes canes for support and symbolic staffs.
The kanji 杖 is composed of 木 (tree, wood) and 丈 (length, measure), suggesting a wooden stick of a certain length. The reading つえ is a native Japanese word.