Lewis & Short

cănālis, is, m. (rarely ante- and postclass., f., Cato, R. R. 18, 6; Varr. R. R. 3, 5, 2; 3, 7, 8; 3, 11, 2; Auct. Aetn. 127 and 149; cf. the dim. canaliculus, etc., Rudd. I. p. 25, n. 35) [kindr. with Sanscr. root khan, fodere, perfodere; Gr. χαίνω, χανῶ; Germ. gähnen, to yawn; or cf. canna, a pipe, reed; Fr. canale; Engl. canal; Sp. cañon].

  1. I. In gen., a pipe, groove, channel, whether open or closed, esp. a water-pipe or channel, a conduit, a canal, Cato, R. R. l. l.; Varr. R. R. l. l.; Verg. G. 3, 330; Caes. B. C. 2, 10; Verg. G. 4, 265; Liv. 23, 31, 9; Suet. Claud. 20; Vitr. 8, 7; Plin. 6, 22, 24, § 82; Stat. S. 1, 2, 205; Auct. Aetn. 127 al.
    Of a channel or trench in mines, Plin. 33, 4, 21, § 69.
    Of the windpipe: animae, Plin. 8, 10, 10, § 29.
    Of the cervix vulvae, Cels. 4, 1, § 38.
    Of a sewer running to the cloaca: (fore) in medio propter canalem, Plaut. Curc. 4, 1, 15; cf. canalicolae.
    1. B. Trop. (not in Cic.), of vision: (pupillae) angustiae non sinunt vagari incertam aciem ac velut canali dirigunt, Plin. 11, 37, 55, § 148; cf.: cujus limine transmeato … jam canale directo perges ad regiam, App. M. 6, p. 180, 19.
      And of the flow of speech: pleniore canali fluere, Quint. 11, 3, 167: certo canali cuncta decurrere, Gallicanus ap. Non. p. 198, 5.
  2. II. Esp.
    1. A. In architecture, the groove or fluting upon Ionic capitals, Vitr. 3, 5, 7.—
    2. B. The channel for missiles in a catapult, Vitr. 10, 13, 7.
    3. C. In surgery, a splint for holding broken bones together, Cels. 8, 10, § 65 sq.
    4. D. A household utensil of unknown form and use, Dig. 33, 7, 12, § 21.
    5. E. A musical instrument, the reed-pipe, Calp. Ecl. 4, 76.