Definition of Canton

Can´ton
n.1.A song or canto
Write loyal cantons of contemned love.
- Shak.
1.A small portion; a division; a compartment.
That little canton of land called the "English pale"
- Davies.
There is another piece of Holbein's, . . . in which, in six several cantons, the several parts of our Savior's passion are represented.
- Bp. Burnet.
2.A small community or clan.
3.A small territorial district; esp. one of the twenty-two independent states which form the Swiss federal republic; in France, a subdivision of an arrondissement. See Arrondissement.
4.(Her.) A division of a shield occupying one third part of the chief, usually on the dexter side, formed by a perpendicular line from the top of the shield, meeting a horizontal line from the side.
The king gave us the arms of England to be borne in a canton in our arms.
- Evelyn.
v. i.1.To divide into small parts or districts; to mark off or separate, as a distinct portion or division.
[imp. & p. p. Cantoned ; p. pr. & vb. n. Cantoning.]
They canton out themselves a little Goshen in the intellectual world.
- Locke.
2.(Mil.) To allot separate quarters to, as to different parts or divisions of an army or body of troops.


Related Words

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