Definition of "canton"

canton¹

/ˈkæntn̩/

noun
plural cantons
1. A division of a political unit.
  Quotations
  These three millions live in a small canton of Egypt which cannot maintain twenty thousand people
  1912, Joseph McCabe (translator), We Must Take Sides; or, The Principal of Action (originally by Voltaire)
  There is another piece of Holbein's, […] in which, in six several cantons, the several parts of our Saviour's passion are represented.
  20 May, 1686, Gilbert Burnet, letter from Nimmengen
  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.
  4. (obsolete) A subdivision of a county, of Quebec, Canada; equivalent to a township.
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.
  Quotations
  The king gave us the arms of England to be borne in a canton in our arms.
  1662 August 31 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819
verb
third-person singular simple present cantons, present participle cantoning, simple past and past participle cantoned
1. (transitive) To delineate as a separate district.
2. (transitive) To divide into cantons.
3. (transitive) To allot quarters to troops.

canton²

noun
plural cantons
1. (obsolete) A song or canto.
  Quotations
  He came to whisper Wolsey.
  c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene v]

Definition of "canton"

canton1

noun

Quotations

Quotations

verb

canton2

noun

Quotations

canton¹

canton²