DCHP-1 Online
canaller Hist. 
1 n. a laborer employed in the building of canals.
- 1844 The Herald proceeds to complain of "the unlawful and threatening assemblage of two thousand "canallers," many of them armed with destructive weapons, for the purpose of insulting and intimidating the parties forming the excursion."
- 1846 . . . the reckless turbulent Irish canal men . . . keep the country in constant excitement. . . . The French Canadians and the Indians cordially detest these canallers.
2 n. an inland freight boat, stubby, narrow-beamed, and about 250 ft. long, built for the old fourteen-foot St. Lawrence canals and rendered obsolete by the St. Lawrence Seaway.
- 1959 From Scott Misener Steamships Ltd. last week, "We regret to inform you" letters went out to captains of the company's 23 aging canallers telling them that the ships would be scrapped.
- 1963 There were upper lakers, canallers, packets, side-wheelers and schooners.
- 1844 The Herald proceeds to complain of "the unlawful and threatening assemblage of two thousand "canallers," many of them armed with destructive weapons, for the purpose of insulting and intimidating the parties forming the excursion."