||Chank" (chă&nsm;k), n. [Skr. ša&ndot;kha. See Conch.] (Zo÷l.) The East Indian name for the large spiral shell of several species of sea conch much used in making bangles, esp. Turbinella pyrum. Called also chank shell.
Chan"nel (chăn"n&ebreve;l), n. [OE. chanel, canel, OF. chanel, F. chenel, fr. L. canalis. See Canal.] 1. The hollow bed where a stream of water runs or may run.
2. The deeper part of a river, harbor, strait, etc., where the main current flows, or which affords the best and safest passage for vessels.
3. (Geog.) A strait, or narrow sea, between two portions of lands; as, the British Channel.
4. That through which anything passes; means of passing, conveying, or transmitting; as, the news was conveyed to us by different channels.
The veins are converging channels.
Dalton.
At best, he is but a channel to convey to the National assembly such matter as may import that body to know.
Burke.