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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CHANNEL, Chennel, n.¹, v.¹ [′tʃɑn(ə)l, ′tʃɛn(ə)l]

1. n.

(1) Gravel (Abd.¹⁹, Ags.¹⁷, Fif.¹⁰, Slg.³, Lnk.³ 1939; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., chennel). Also channelly, gravelly. Prob. so called from its being gen. taken from the channel of a water course. Found also in n.Eng. dial. in forms channel, chennel, chinnel, etc. (see E.D.D.).Sc. 1725 W. Macfarlane Geog. Coll. (S.H.S.) I. 220: 
The earth and soil is gravelish and on a hard channel.Sc. 1743 R. Maxwell Select Trans. Agric. 109:
The moorish Staple . . . being no thicker than six inches, and having only Sand and Channel below it.Sc. 1835 T. T. Stoddart Art Angling in Scot. v.:
When your victim is exhausted, draw him gently ashore, upon the nearest channel, or most level part of the margin.Ork. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ XIV. 329:
The nature of it [the soil] is generally very spongy, or else very hard and channelly, with but a very small stratum of earth.Fif. 1893 “G. Setoun” Barncraig vii.:
That would be i' March . . . for Tammy was drivin' channel to the gardens o' the big house.Rxb. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ III. 311:
It is a very fertile, deep, strong clay, some parts of it mixed with small channel, and other parts with sand.

Comb.: chennel-bed, “a river-bed” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).

(2) “The pavement or paved side-walk of a street” (Ib., chennel).

Hence channel-stane, “a paving-stone” (Ib.).

(3) “The gutter at the side of a street” (Ib.). Known to Ags.¹⁷ 1939. Found also in Eng. dial. (E.D.D.).

2. v. Found only as pa.p. or ppl.adj. channel(l)ed, covered with gravel.Sc. 1835 T. T. Stoddart Art Angling in Scot. xiv.:
Its lochs . . . mostly possess rich weeded or channeled bottoms.Hdg. 1892 J. Lumsden Sheep-head and Trotters 295:
The coach road had to be cleaned, . . . an' the haill o't, frae the tae end tae the tither, new channelled owre.