cannula

can·nu·la
C3A1N1N1U1L1A1
UK/ˈkænjʊlə/US/ˈkænjələ/UK/ˈkænjʊli/UK/-aɪ/

noun

A tube inserted into the body to drain or inject fluid.

OriginLate Latin cannula ← Latin canna ← Ancient Greek κᾰ́ννᾰ (kắnnă) →
UncommonScrabble 9
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Meanings

nouncannula (plural cannulas or cannulae or cannulæ)

plural cannulas · plural cannulae · plural cannulæ · alternative canula

  1. medicineA tube inserted into the body to drain or inject fluid.

    Two or three cannulæ are requisite also for washing out the sinuses.

    1915, F. H. Westmacott, System of Treatment by many Writers, volume III, The Macmillan Company, page 717
    1 more example

    The cannula had come askew in his nose and he pushed it straight, his hand moving slowly, like the hand of a man who is dreaming with his eyes open.

    2011, Stephen King, 11/22/63, New York: Scribner, →ISBN, page 819 of 819–820
  2. aeronauticsA hose or tube that connects directly from an oxygen bottle or other source to the user's nose, commonly used by aircraft pilots or others needing direct oxygen breathing apparatus.

Origin

  1. Akkadian𒂵𒉡𒌑𒌝 (qanûm)
  2. Ancient Greekκᾰ́ννᾰ (kắnnă)
  3. Latincanna
  4. Late Latincannula
  5. Englishcannula

Borrowed from Late Latin cannula, canula (“tubular surgical instrument”), from Latin cannula (“reed; small reed- or tube-shaped object”), from canna (“cane; reed; object made from or shaped like a cane or reed”) + -ula (feminine form of -ulus (diminutive suffix). Canna is derived from Ancient Greek κᾰ́ννᾰ (kắnnă, “reed”), from Akkadian 𒂵𒉡𒌑𒌝 (qanûm, “cane; reed”). The plural form cannulae is borrowed from Late Latin cannulae.

More words from Latin, Ancient Greek, Akkadian

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan cànula
  • cànulatube inserted in the body to drain or inject fluid
Finnish kanyyli
  • kanyylitube inserted in the body to drain or inject fluid
French canule
  • canuletube inserted in the body to drain or inject fluid
German Kanüle
  • Kanületube inserted in the body to drain or inject fluid
Polish kaniula
  • kaniulatube inserted in the body to drain or inject fluid
Portuguese cânula
  • cânulatube inserted in the body to drain or inject fluid
Russian каню́ля
  • каню́ля (kanjúlja)tube inserted in the body to drain or inject fluid
Slovak kanyla
  • kanylatube inserted in the body to drain or inject fluid
Spanish cánula, bitoque
  • cánulatube inserted in the body to drain or inject fluid
  • bitoquetube inserted in the body to drain or inject fluid
Swedish kanyl
  • kanyltube inserted in the body to drain or inject fluid
Cite this entry
APA

cannula. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cannula

MLA

“cannula.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cannula. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cannula,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cannula.

Source: cannula on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.