Mancha

Mancha, La. [Castile.] 1. The French Manche, La (Fr. "sleeve"). name for the English Channel.

2. A department in the N.W. of France, having the Channel on every side except the east. It has an area of 2,289 square miles, the large part of which is arable land. There are extensive apple orchards, from the produce of which much cider is made, and valuable granite quarries; and fine breeds of horses, cattle, and sheep are reared. The capital of the department is St. L6, but Cherbourg is the most important town. Cape La Hague is the northwestern point.