Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CHAN'NEL, n. [Ir. cainneal; Fr. canal; L. canalis; Arm. can, or canol. It is a different spelling of canal.]

1. In a general sense, a passage; a place of passing or flowing; particularly, a water-course.
2. The place where a river flows, including the whole breadth of the river. But more appropriately, the deeper part or hollow in which the principal current flows.
3. The deeper part of a strait, bay, or harbor, where the principal current flows, either of tide or fresh water, or which is the most convenient for the track of a ship.
4. That through which any thing passes; means of passing, conveying, or transmitting; as, the news was conveyed to us by different channels.
5. A gutter or furrow in a column.
6. An arm of the sea; strait or narrow sea, between two continents, or between a continent and an isle; as the British or Irish channel.
7. Channels of a ship. [See Chain-wales.]