caneh, can-, cann- +

(Hebrew: kaneh, reed; Latin: canna, reed, pipe)

Long ago, tall, slender, and hollow reeds grew on the banks of the Jordan and Nile Rivers

The word for "reed" in the Hebrew, Arabic, and Egyptian languages was kaneh. This word passed over into Greek and Latin, and into the languages of western Europe where a remarkable word family grew from the root canna.

Some words are easy to trace back to canna; such as "sugar cane", a "walking cane", and even a "cannon" are all clearly related to the reed in shape. With just a little imagination, the words "canal" and "channel" can also be associated with a pipe or groove.

It is difficult to see how the word "canon", or law, can be derived from the root meaning reed. Since reeds were long and straight, they were often used as measuring rods; and so, the word "reed" came to mean "a standard"; ultimately, it became "an authoritative standard", or law.

—This introduction was compiled from information located in
Words Come in Families by Edward Horowitz, Ph.D.;
Hart Publishing Company, Inc.; New York; 1977; pages 31-33.
canal
A groove; an artificial waterway.

"The Panama canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans."

cannister
A can for storing things.

"The canister was labeled "sugar", but when he used some of the powder in his coffee, he realized that it was salt."

cannon
A large gun.

"The roar of the cannon announced that the parade had begun."

cannonade
A concentrated outpouring, as of missiles, words, or blows; a barrage.

"On army directed a cannonade at its opposing forces for three hours."

canon
1. A law; a criterion or standard used in making judgments.
2. A principle governing the affairs of people within or among political units.

"The canons of good behavior apply to everyone."

The word canon comes from Latin meaning "rule" or "law", which came from Greek kanon, "measuring rod, rule, standard".

The other English word canon, a clergyman assigned to a large church, or who is a member of a special religious order, means "someone who lives according to a religious rule" or canon.

canonical
Adhering to beliefs or practices approved by authority or tradition.

"A Roman Catholic Church canonical ruling liberalized the religious prohibition against eating meat on Friday."

canonize
To declare someone a saint.

"Five hundred years after she was burned at the stake for witchcraft, Joan of Arc was canonized."

canyon
A narrow valley between high cliffs.

"The Indians used smoke signals to communicate across canyons."

channel
1. A long groove; a body of water joining two larger bodies of water; a passageway.

"The English Channel separates the British Isles from the European continent."

2. A transmitting band assigned to a broadcast station.

"Channel 12 has many educational television programs."

3. To direct into a groove.

"To achieve a goal, you have to channel your energies in one direction."

You can find more words related to this family by clicking on this can-, cann- unit of "reed, pipe" words.