Middle English Dictionary Entry
chanel n.
Entry Info
| Forms | chanel n. Also can(n)el, kanel. |
| Etymology | OF chanel, canel; cp. also L canula. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The bed of a river or of the sea; (b) a navigable channel in the estuary of a river.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.29 : Þat ryuer [Dee] eueriche monþe chaungeþ his foordes..and leueþ ofte þe chanel.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)153b/b : Some tyme..by meltyng of snowe the water ariseþ and passeþ þe chanayle and brymmes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)334b/b : Þe ryuer nilus was arisen and eft wiþ drawe in to þe Chanell.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1866 : Again he did waters ga til þair canels þat þai com fra.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22577 : Vp to þe lift rise sal þe see..Again þe see þan sal it drau Dun fra the lift..Vntil hir chanel [Göt: canel] þan sal sco turn.
b
- (1427) *Anc.Pet.(PRO)25.1232 : Vesselx and men..be lost and perisshid..for defaute of a bekyn þat shud teche þe poeple to holde þe right chanell.
2.
(a) A gutter, drain, or ditch (as along the street of a medieval city); also, the water in a gutter; ~ rakere, one who clears the gutters; ~ rakinge, clearing the gutters; (b) ~ dong, filth from the gutter; ~ ston, stone for lining a gutter.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.754 : Waschyng þe stretys..And þe goteris..the canel skoured was so clene [etc.].
- (1422) Plea & Mem.in Bk.Lond.E.121/6 : The mayster of ludgate puttyth out, oft tymes, dung in the Canell and stoppit the watir goyng, to grete nusans to all folk ther passyng.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.335 : Þe children of Israel..drunken podel water of þe canel.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)12/2 : Þe dette of matrimony was so abhominabyl to hir, þat sche had leuar..drynkyn þe wose..in þe chanel.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)69 : Chanelle of a strete: Canalis, aquagium.
- (1444) RParl.5.114a : Such Wyne..is not able for any mannes drynke ne no thyng els, but to cast oute into the Cannell.
- (1448) Acc.St.Margaret Southwark in BMag.32485 : Peid for the Canel Rakyng for v yere, x s.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)18.97 : The water was as fowl As Ony chanel.
- (1458) Acc.St.Margaret Southwark in BMag.32639 : Payd to the Canell Rakere, vj d.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)491/18 : The which mese is I-sette even ayenst the chanell [L stanulle] of seynt mary chirche-yerde in the north parte.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)195/21 : Goo downe ynto þe strete, and se þer a pylgrym lyyng yn þe chanell.
b
- c1450 Brut-1434 (Cmb Hh.6.9)443/3 : Women of þe same parish come oute to hym..with canell dong & þere made an ende of hym in þe high streit.
- (1460-65) Acc.St.Andrew Hubbard in BMag.31396 : Payd to a Mason..for chanel stone, pauyng Stone, And for the boredyr of a Chymney.
3.
(a) A tube; a tap or faucet; (b) surg. a tube or tubular instrument, as for fumigating, drawing off fluid, etc.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)96/11 : Þan scha[l] þe oile distille þurȝ þe canel into þe lawer potte.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.464 : Canels or pipis, wynes forth to lede Into the vat & tonnys.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)66 : Wyne canels..of box fetice & fyne.
b
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)287/18 : Þou schalt peerse a litil hole in siphac & sette þerto a canel [L cannula] & drawe out..watir [etc.].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)135b/b : Canellez soukyng & subfumigatif.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)136a/a : Wiþ a soukyng canell.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)136a/b : Be it souked with a canell [*Ch.(2): pype; L canula].
4.
(a) The windpipe; also, the neck; (b) the urethra.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2298 : Kepe þy kanel at þis kest, ȝif hit keuer may!
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)5538 : Here armes vayled not an hoppe, He smot In-two bothe chanel and choppe.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.389 : Þere com a greet pestilence of evel in þe chanelles of men at þe neþer ende [L inguinaria].
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)281/21 : If þe stoon sitte in þe canel of þe ȝerde.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. channel.