I. ˈkant ə n, -ˈaa-, -ntən; ˈka(a)n.ˌtän, (ˈ) ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French, from Old Provençal, from cant edge, from Latin cantus, canthus iron ring round a carriage wheel — more at cant (angle)
1. obsolete : division , part , section ; especially : corner
2.
[Middle French, from Italian cantone, from canto corner, from Latin cantus, canthus ]
a. : a small territorial division of a country
b. : a district or local governing unit: as
(1) : one of the states of the Swiss confederation
(2) : a division of a French arrondissement
3.
a. : the area in the upper inner corner of a flag ; specifically : a rectangular division occupying the upper inner corner of a flag, usually comprising one fourth or less of its surface, and usually containing the national or other device — compare union 4
b. : any one of the four quarters of the surface of a flag
4.
a.
(1) : a rectangular division of a heraldic field usually placed in the dexter chief
(2) : the dexter chief region of a heraldic field
b. : any one of the spaces left in the four corners of a heraldic field by a cross ; specifically : the dexter chief canton
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1. “ : to divide into parts : portion ; specifically : to divide into cantons or districts — often used with out
2. (ˈ)ka(a)n.|tōn, -tän, kən.ˈt- also ˈka(a)nt ə n or -ntən; Brit usu, US sometimes (ˈ)ka(a)n.|tün or kən.ˈt-
[French cantonner, from canton part of a country]
: to allot quarters to (as to a body of troops) : quarter
intransitive verb
pronounced like vt 2 of troops : to take up quarters
III. ˈkan.ˌtän, -ˈaa-, ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ adjective
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: from Canton, city in S.E. China
: of or from the city of Canton, China : of the kind or style prevalent in Canton : cantonese
IV. ˈkant ə n, -ˈaa-, -tən adjective
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: from Canton, city in Ohio
: of or from the city of Canton, Ohio
a Canton product
: of the kind or style prevalent in Canton
V. like canton III noun
( -s )
Usage: often capitalized
Etymology: probably from Canton, city in S.E. China
: holland blue