Main Entry: ¹ca·nal

Pronunciation: \kə-ˈnal\

Function: 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