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,” 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.—
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.