Channel's special feature (6)
I believe the answer is:
strait
'channel's' is the definition.
(strait is a kind of channel)
'special feature' is the wordplay.
'special' becomes 'S' (common abbreviation as in Special Air Service).
'feature' becomes 'trait' (I've seen this in another clue).
's'+'trait'='STRAIT'
(Other definitions for strait that I've seen before include "Narrow sea passage" , "Narrow or difficult" , "Catch in a trap" , "Narrow waterway" , "Narrow strip of water between two larger ones" .)