Canal

Pronunciation

• IPA: /kəˈnæl/
• Rhymes: -æl

Origin

From French canal, from Old French canal, from Latin canālis ("channel; canal"), from Latin canālis ("canal"), from canna ("reed, cane"), from Ancient Greek κάννα (kanna, "reed"), from Akkadian 𒄀 (qanû, "reed"), from Sumerian 𒄀𒈾 (gi.na, "").

Full definition of canal

Noun

1. An artificial waterway, often connecting one body of water with another
2. A tubular channel within the body.

Related terms

• channel
• channelization
• channelize
• canalization
• canalize

Verb

1. To dig an artificial waterway in or to (a place), especially for drainage
• 1968, Louisiana State University, Proceedings, In the mangrove-type salt marsh, the entire marsh must be canaled or impounded.
2. To travel along a canal by boat
• 1905, William Yoast Morgan, A Journey of a Jayhawker, Near Rotterdam we canalled by Delfthaven.