I. ˈcha-n ə l noun
Etymology: Middle English chanel, from Anglo-French, from Latin canalis channel — more at canal
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : the bed where a natural stream of water runs
b. : the deeper part of a river, harbor, or strait
c. : a strait or narrow sea between two close landmasses
d. : a means of communication or expression: as
(1) : a path along which information (as data or music) in the form of an electrical signal passes
(2) plural : a fixed or official course of communication
went through established military channel s with his grievances
e. : a way, course, or direction of thought or action
new channel s of exploration
f. : a band of frequencies of sufficient width for a single radio or television communication
g. : channeler
2.
a. : a usually tubular enclosed passage : conduit
b. : a passage created in a selectively permeable cell membrane by a conformational change in membrane proteins ; also : the proteins of such a passage — compare ion channel
3. : a long gutter, groove, or furrow
4. : a metal bar of flattened U-shaped section
II. transitive verb
( -neled or -nelled ; -nel·ing or -nel·ling )
Date: 15th century
1.
a. : to form, cut, or wear a channel in
b. : to make a groove in
channel a chair leg
2. : to convey or direct into or through a channel
channel his energy into useful work
3. : to serve as a channeler or intermediary for
III. noun
Etymology: alteration of chainwale, from chain (I) + wale (I)
Date: 1769
: one of the flat ledges of heavy plank or metal bolted edgewise to the outside of a ship to increase the spread of the shrouds