I. ˈfə-n ə l noun
Etymology: Middle English fonel, from Anglo-French fonyle, from Old Occitan fonilh, from Medieval Latin fundibulum, short for Latin infundibulum, from infundere to pour in, from in- + fundere to pour — more at found
Date: 15th century
1.
a. : a utensil that is usually a hollow cone with a tube extending from the smaller end and that is designed to catch and direct a downward flow
b. : something shaped like a funnel
2. : a stack or flue for the escape of smoke or for ventilation (as on a ship)
II. verb
( -neled also -nelled ; -nel·ing also -nel·ling )
Date: 1594
intransitive verb
1. : to have or take the shape of a funnel
2. : to pass through or as if through a funnel or conduit
the crowd funnel s through the doors
transitive verb
1. : to form in the shape of a funnel
funnel ed his hands and shouted through them
2. : to move to a focal point or into a conduit or central channel
contributions were funnel ed into one account