I. ˈkan-t ə n, -ˌtän noun
Etymology: Middle French, from Italian cantone, from canto corner, from Latin canthus iron tire — more at cant
Date: 1522
: a small territorial division of a country: as
a. : one of the states of the Swiss confederation
b. : a division of a French arrondissement
• can·ton·al ˈkan-tə-nəl, kan-ˈtä-n ə l adjective
II. noun
Etymology: Middle French, from Old Occitan, from cant edge, corner, from Latin canthus
Date: 1572
1. obsolete : division , section
2. : the top inner quarter of a flag
3. : the dexter chief region of a heraldic field