canal

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Latin canalis pipe, channel, from canna reed — more at cane Date: 15th century 1. a tubular anatomical passage or channel ; duct 2. channel, watercourse 3. an artificial waterway for navigation or for draining or irrigating land 4. any of various faint narrow lines on the planet Mars seen through telescopes and once thought by some to be canals built by Martians II. transitive verb (-nalled or -naled; -nalling or -naling) Date: 1793 to construct a canal through or across