funnel

noun

1. Alternative form of fummel (“hybrid animal”).

verb

Etymology: From Middle English funell, fonel, probably through Old French *founel (compare Middle French fonel, Old Occitan fonilh, enfounilh), from Latin fundibulum, infundibulum (“funnel”), from infundere (“to pour in”); in (“in”) + fundere (“to pour”); compare Breton founilh (“funnel”), Welsh ffynel (“air hole, chimney”). See fuse.

1. To use a funnel.
2. To proceed through a narrow gap or passageway akin to a funnel; to condense or narrow.

   “Expect delays where the traffic funnels down to one lane.”

   “2014, Paul Salopek, Blessed. Cursed. Claimed., National Geographic (December 2014)https://web.archive.org/web/20150212214621/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2014/12/pilgrim-roads/salopek-text A line of clocks in our cheap hotel displays the time in Lagos, Bucharest, Kiev: the capitals of pilgrims who come to kneel at the birthplace of Christ. In reality the entire world funnels through the Church of the Nativity.”

3. To channel, direct, or focus (emotions, money, resources, etc.).

   “Our taxes are being funnelled into pointless government initiatives.”

   “Like so many others, I was awestruck by the first season, which captured a moment in time and successfully funnelled its rage outwards at a world in which women are indeed silenced, controlled and killed by men.”

4. To consume (beer, etc.) rapidly through a funnel, typically as a stunt at a party.

   “The first time he did it was to this freshman Kevin Ryers and we all just burst out laughing, watching Kevin try to funnel a beer.”