What body of water is between England and France?

The English Channel, also known as simply the Channel (or historically as the British Channel), is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates Southern England from northern France. It links to the southern part of the North Sea by the Strait of Dover at its northeastern end. It is the busiest shipping area in the world.

The word channel was first recorded in Middle English in the 13th century and was borrowed from Old French chanel (a variant form of chenel 'canal'). By the middle of the fifteenth century an Italian map based on Ptolemy's description named the sea as Britanicus Oceanus nunc Canalites Anglie (British Ocean but now English Channel). The map is possibly the first recorded use of the term English Channel and the description suggests the name had recently been adopted.

The French name la Manche has been used since at least the 17th century. The name is usually said to refer to the sleeve (French: la manche) shape of the Channel.