Chunnel

or chun·nel

[ chuhn-l ]

noun

1. a railroad tunnel under the English Channel between Great Britain and France, approved for construction in 1986.

Chunnel

/ ˈtʃʌnəl /

noun

1. informal.
   a rail tunnel beneath the English Channel, linking England and France, opened in 1994

Word History and Origins

Origin of Chunnel¹

1925–30; blend of channel ¹ and tunnel

Word History and Origins

Origin of Chunnel¹

C20: from Ch ( annel ) + ( t ) unnel

Example Sentences

The prevailing standard of train travel in Europe is a far cry from the sleek Chunnel trains that zip beneath the seabed of the English Channel and can reach speeds of 186 miles per hour.

From Washington Post

No channel tunnel was built until Eurotunnel opened the “Chunnel” in 1994, between Folkestone, England, and Coquelles, France.

From Scientific American

The project has been a success on both sides of the Chunnel.

From Washington Post

He drove to Calais to get the masterpiece when it emerged from the Chunnel and was at last overseeing its rehanging in the Louvre’s Rembrandt room.

From Seattle Times

This was the basketball equivalent of someone digging the Chunnel all by themselves, and completing the project on time and under budget.

From Slate