Canyon
/ˈkænjən/noun
A deep, narrow valley with steep sides, often carved by a river.
Did you know?The English word came through Spanish canyon, ultimately from Latin canna, meaning a reed or pipe, so the landscape term began as an image of a hollow channel rather than a dramatic cliff.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kan-
“to bend, curve; a reed or hollow stalk (traditional reconstruction)”
Latin
Latin
canna
“a reed, reed pipe, or stalk”
Spanish
Spanish
cañón
“a tube, pipe; later, a ravine or gorge”
19th Century
English
canyon
“a deep gorge or ravine, especially in the American West”
Modern English
English
canyon
“a deep, narrow valley with steep sides”