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].
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.—
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, Ap. Met. 6, 18, 6.—And of the flow of speech : pleniore canali fluere, Quint. 11, 3, 167: certo canali cuncta decurrere, Gallicanus ap. Non. p. 198, 5.—
II Esp.
A In architecture, the groove or fluting upon Ionic capitals , Vitr. 3, 5, 7.— —
B The channel for missiles in a catapult , Vitr. 10, 13, 7.—
C In surgery, a splint for holding broken bones together , Cels. 8, 10, § 65 sq.—
D A household utensil of unknown form and use , Dig. 33, 7, 12, § 21.—
E A musical instrument , the reed-pipe , Calp. Ecl. 4, 76.