Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Canton?

\Can"ton\, n. A song or canto [Obs.] Write loyal cantons of contemned love. --Shak.
\Can"ton\, n. [F. canton, augm. of OF. cant edge, corner. See 1st {Cant}.] 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.
\Can"ton\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Cantoned}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Cantoning}.] [Cf. F. cantonner.] 1. To divide into small parts or districts; to mark off or separate, as a distinct portion or division. 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.