Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Canton

Can′ton

,
Noun.
A song or canto
[Obs.]
Write loyal
cantons
of contemned love.
Shakespeare

Can′ton

,
Noun.
[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

,
Verb.
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.

Webster 1828 Edition

Canton

CANTON

, n.
1.
A small portion of land, or division of territory; originally, a portion of territory on a border; also, the inhabitants of a canton.
2.
A small portion or district of territory, constituting a distinct state or government; as in Switzerland.
3.
In heraldry, a corner of the shield.
4.
A distinct part, or division; as the cantons of a painting or other representation.

Definition 2024

Canton

Canton

See also: canton, cantón, and Cantón

English

Proper noun

Canton

  1. (historical) The Chinese city of Guangzhou
  2. (historical) The Chinese province of Guangdong.
Derived terms
Translations

Etymology 2

Proper noun

Canton

  1. An inner-city district of Cardiff

Etymology 3

Proper noun

Canton

  1. A topographical surname​ of French or Galician derivation.

Anagrams

French

Proper noun

Canton

  1. Canton (former name for Guangzhou)
  2. Canton (former name for Guangdong)

Usage notes

Although "Canton" may be dated in English, it is current in French.

Derived terms

See also

Italian

Etymology

From Portuguese Cantão, from Chinese 廣東／广东 (Guǎngdōng).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kanˈtɔn/
  • Hyphenation: Can‧tòn

Proper noun

Canton f

  1. Guangzhou (a city in China)
  2. Guangdong (the province of China with Guangzhou)

Derived terms

canton

canton

See also: cantón, Canton, and Cantón

English

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈkæntn̩/
  • IPA(key): /ˈkæntɒn/ (especially in the flag sense)

Noun

canton ‎(plural cantons)

  1. A division of a political unit.
    • Davies
      that little canton of land called the "English pale"
    • Bishop Burnet
      There is another piece of Holbein's, […] in which, in six several cantons, the several parts of our Saviour's passion are represented.
    1. One of the states comprising the Swiss Confederation.
    2. A subdivision of an arrondissement of France.
    3. A division of Luxembourg, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, etc.
  2. A small community or clan.
  3. A subdivision of a flag, the rectangular inset on the upper hoist (i.e., flagpole) side (e.g., the stars of the US national flag are in a canton).
  4. (heraldry) A division of a shield occupying one third of the chief, usually on the dexter side, formed by a perpendicular line from the top meeting a horizontal line from the side.
    • Evelyn
      The king gave us the arms of England to be borne in a canton in our arms.
Translations

Verb

canton ‎(third-person singular simple present cantons, present participle cantoning, simple past and past participle cantoned)

  1. To delineate as a separate district.

Etymology 2

Noun

canton ‎(plural cantons)

  1. (obsolete) A song or canto.
    • Shakespeare
      Write loyal cantons of contemned love.

Anagrams

French

Etymology

From Old Provençal canton ‎(“corner”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kɑ̃.tɔ̃/

Noun

canton m ‎(plural cantons)

  1. canton (of Switzerland, France or Luxembourg)
  2. (heraldry) canton

Venetian

Noun

canton m (plural cantoni)

  1. corner

Derived terms

Etymology

From Portuguese Cantão, from Chinese 廣東／广东 (Guǎngdōng).

Similar Results