Plain English Meaning

A thin tube that sits in your nose and feeds you extra oxygen. It is one of the simpler ways to get supplemental oxygen in flight, used at altitudes that aren't extremely high.

Full Definition

A small, lightweight nasal tube that delivers supplemental oxygen to a pilot or passenger by resting just inside the nostrils, used in unpressurized aircraft at moderate cabin altitudes (generally up to 18,000 feet MSL).

Context Anchor

Seen in discussions of aircraft oxygen equipment and pilot oxygen use at altitude.

Derivation

From the Latin cannula, meaning 'small reed' or 'little tube' (a diminutive of canna, 'reed' or 'pipe'). The medical and aviation use kept the literal sense — a small tube that carries something into the .