‖ canaliculus
(kænəˈlɪkjʊləs)
Pl. canaliculi.
[a. L. canāliculus, dim. of canālis pipe, groove, channel. The 16th c. plurals in -icoli, -icolos in Shute appear due to an It. canalicolo.]
† 1. Arch. A groove, fluting, channel. (See canal and channel.) Obs.
| 1563 Shute Arch. C iij a, If your pillor shall haue Canaliculos. Ibid. C iij b, The Canalicoli, standing vpright within the Triglyphi. Ibid. D iij b, If this piller be garnished and filled with Canaliculi. |
2. Phys. A small canal or duct; applied esp. to the minute tubes connecting the lacunæ in the bones, and to the lachrymal canals connecting each lachrymal sac with the eye-lids.
| [1727–51 Chambers Cycl., Canalis or Canaliculus arteriosus.] 1854 J. Hogg Microsc. i. ii. (1867) 67 The lacunæ and canaliculi of bone-structure. 1875 H. Walton Dis. Eye 471 The division of a canaliculus. |