{"id":4336,"date":"2026-02-14T15:54:15","date_gmt":"2026-02-14T15:54:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/?p=4336"},"modified":"2026-02-14T15:58:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-14T15:58:11","slug":"adventures-in-etymology-channeling-reeds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/?p=4336","title":{"rendered":"Adventures in Etymology &#8211; Channelling Reeds"},"content":{"rendered":"<div itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/AudioObject\"><meta itemprop=\"name\" content=\"Adventures in Etymology &amp;#8211; Channelling Reeds\" \/><meta itemprop=\"uploadDate\" content=\"2026-02-14T15:54:15+00:00\" \/><meta itemprop=\"encodingFormat\" content=\"audio\/mpeg\" \/><meta itemprop=\"duration\" content=\"PT2M02S\" \/><meta itemprop=\"description\" content=\"Are the words channel, canal and cane connected? Let find out in this Adventure in Etymology.\n\n\n\nMeanings of channel [\u02c8t\u0283\u00e6n\u0259l] as a noun include:\n\n The hollow bed of running waters.\n The navigable part of a river.\n A narrow body of water between two ...\" \/><meta itemprop=\"contentUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/channelingreeds.mp3\" \/><meta itemprop=\"contentSize\" content=\"2.3\" \/><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_2753\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-4336-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/channelingreeds.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/channelingreeds.mp3\">https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/channelingreeds.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><\/div><p class=\"powerpress_links powerpress_links_mp3\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1px !important;\">Podcast: <a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/channelingreeds.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_pinw\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Play in new window\" onclick=\"return powerpress_pinw('https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/?powerpress_pinw=4336-podcast');\" rel=\"nofollow\">Play in new window<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/channelingreeds.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_d\" title=\"Download\" rel=\"nofollow\" download=\"channelingreeds.mp3\">Download<\/a><\/p><p>Are the words <strong>channel<\/strong>, <strong>canal<\/strong> and <strong>cane<\/strong> connected? Let find out in this Adventure in Etymology.<\/p>\n<p><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/omniglot\/43403613091\/in\/photolist-298qS1K-2rqpysZ-2rqtV2q-2rqv2VL-2rqv3hc-2rqv3Qs-2rqv4cK-2rqvCE2\" title=\"Caledonian Canal \/ Can\u00e0l Cailleanach\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/843\/43403613091_a9578c4c60_z.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"361\" alt=\"Caledonian Canal \/ Can\u00e0l Cailleanach\"\/><\/a><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Meanings of <strong>channel<\/strong> [\u02c8t\u0283\u00e6n\u0259l] as a noun include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The hollow bed of running waters.<\/li>\n<li>The navigable part of a river.<\/li>\n<li>A narrow body of water between two land masses. <\/li>\n<li>A specific radio frequency or band of frequencies used for transmitting radio or television.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As a verb, <strong>to channel<\/strong> can mean:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>To make or cut a channel or groove in.<\/li>\n<li>To direct or guide along a desired course.<\/li>\n<li>To serve as a medium for.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It comes from Middle English <em>chanel<\/em> (a river or sea bed, a navigable channel in a river, a gutter, drain or ditch), from Old French <em>chenel<\/em> (channel [of water]), from Latin <em>can\u0101lis<\/em> (pipe, spout, channel, gutter, groove), from <em>canna<\/em> (reed, cane), from Ancient Greek <em>\u03ba\u03ac\u03bd\u03bd\u03b1<\/em> (k\u00e1nna &#8211; reed, reed mat), from Akkadian <em>\ud808\udcb5\ud808\ude61\ud808\udf11\ud808\udf1d<\/em> (qan\u00fbm &#8211; reed) [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/channel#English\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p>Alternatively, the Ancient Greek word <em>\u03ba\u03ac\u03bd\u03bd\u03b1<\/em> (k\u00e1nna &#8211; reed, reed mat) comes from Akkadian <em>\ud808\udd00<\/em> (qan\u00fb &#8211; reed), Sumerian <em>\ud808\udd00\ud808\ude3e<\/em> (gi.na &#8211; reed), from <em>\ud808\udd00<\/em> (gi &#8211; reed, measuring reed, unit of length equal to 6 cubits) [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/cane#English\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p>Words from the same roots include <strong>canal<\/strong>, <strong>cannula<\/strong> and <strong>cane<\/strong> in English, <strong>\u0642\u064e\u0646\u064e\u0627\u0629<\/strong> (qan\u0101h &#8211; channel, canal, spear) in Arabic, <strong>canna<\/strong> (cane, barrel, rod, tube) in Italian, <strong>caneta<\/strong> (pen) in Portuguese, and <strong>canol<\/strong> (centre, middle) in Welsh [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/qan%C3%BBm#Akkadian\">source<\/a>]. <\/p>\n<p>If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/uk\/cgi-bin\/webscr?cmd=_flow&amp;SESSION=aLjPfXL-vP_1gQ_U23Iz8_hSWLlhzLHPMFZrt32dIEfG8htoNFLYaPoWkv8&amp;dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8def8934b92a630e40b7fef61ab7e9fe63\">PayPal<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/omniglot\">Patreon<\/a>, or <a href=\"http:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/donations.htm\">contribute to Omniglot in other ways<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with <a href=\"https:\/\/blubrry.com\/services\/podcast-hosting\/?code=omniglot\">Blubrry Podcast Hosting<\/a>, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code <strong>omniglot<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.japanesepod101.com\/member\/go.php?r=759259&amp;i=b0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/images\/banners\/banner_japanesepod.jpg\" alt=\"The Fastest Way to Learn Japanese Guaranteed with JapanesePod101.com\" width=\"630\" height=\"83\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I also write about words, etymology and other language-related topics on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/bloggle\/\">Omniglot Blog<\/a>, and I explore etymological connections between Celtic languages on the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/\">Celtiadur<\/a> blog.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-5001128073855040\"\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<!-- Blog horizontal --><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-5001128073855040\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"1685480124\"\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/AudioObject\"><meta itemprop=\"name\" content=\"Adventures in Etymology &amp;#8211; Channelling Reeds\" \/><meta itemprop=\"uploadDate\" content=\"2026-02-14T15:54:15+00:00\" \/><meta itemprop=\"encodingFormat\" content=\"audio\/mpeg\" \/><meta itemprop=\"duration\" content=\"PT2M02S\" \/><meta itemprop=\"description\" content=\"Are the words channel, canal and cane connected? Let find out in this Adventure in Etymology.\n\n\n\nMeanings of channel [\u02c8t\u0283\u00e6n\u0259l] as a noun include:\n\n The hollow bed of running waters.\n The navigable part of a river.\n A narrow body of water between two ...\" \/><meta itemprop=\"contentUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/channelingreeds.mp3\" \/><meta itemprop=\"contentSize\" content=\"2.3\" \/><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_2754\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-4336-2\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/channelingreeds.mp3?_=2\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/channelingreeds.mp3\">https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/channelingreeds.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><\/div><p class=\"powerpress_links powerpress_links_mp3\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1px !important;\">Podcast: <a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/channelingreeds.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_pinw\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Play in new window\" onclick=\"return powerpress_pinw('https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/?powerpress_pinw=4336-podcast');\" rel=\"nofollow\">Play in new window<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/channelingreeds.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_d\" title=\"Download\" rel=\"nofollow\" download=\"channelingreeds.mp3\">Download<\/a><\/p><p>Are the words channel, canal and cane connected? Let find out in this Adventure in Etymology. Meanings of channel [\u02c8t\u0283\u00e6n\u0259l] as a noun include: The hollow bed of running waters. The navigable part of a river. A narrow body of water between two land masses. A specific radio frequency or band of frequencies used for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[98,382,97,60,20,56,12,4,50,58,109,1,27,148,7],"tags":[380,381,379,90,9,167,15,88,8,103],"class_list":["post-4336","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adventures-in-etymology","category-akkadian-","category-ancient-greek-","category-arabic-","category-english","category-etymology","category-italian","category-language","category-latin","category-middle-english","category-old-french-franceis","category-podcast","category-portuguese","category-sumerian-","category-welsh","tag-canal","tag-cane","tag-channel","tag-etymology","tag-language","tag-linguistics","tag-music","tag-omniglot","tag-podcast","tag-words"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4336","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4336"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4336\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4342,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4336\/revisions\/4342"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4336"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4336"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4336"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}