canton

¹

[ kan-tn, -ton, kan-ton kan-ton, -tohn, or, especially British, -toon ]

noun

1. a small territorial district, especially one of the states of the Swiss confederation.
2. (in a department of France) a division of an arrondissement.
3. Heraldry. a square area in the dexter chief, or right-hand corner, of an escutcheon, often distinctively treated: a diminutive of the dexter chief quarter.
4. Architecture. a pilaster or similar feature projecting from the corner of a building.
5. Obsolete. a division, part, or portion of anything.

verb (used with object)

1. to divide into parts or portions.
2. to divide into cantons or territorial districts.
3. to allot quarters to (soldiers, troops, etc.).

Canton

²

[ kan-ton, kan-ton kan-tn ]

noun

1. Older Spelling. a seaport in and the capital of Guangdong province, in southeastern China, on the Zhu Jiang. Also called (Older Spelling) Kwang·chow [kwahng, -, choh, kwang, -, gwahng, -, joh],.
2. a city in northeastern Ohio: location of the football Hall of Fame.
3. a city in eastern Massachusetts.
4. a city in western central Illinois.
5. a town in central Mississippi.

canton

¹

noun

1. any of the 23 political divisions of Switzerland
2. a subdivision of a French arrondissement
3. ˈkæntən heraldry a small square or oblong charge on a shield, usually in the top left corner

verb

1. kænˈtɒn tr to divide into cantons
2. kənˈtuːn (esp formerly) to allocate accommodation to (military personnel)

Canton

²

noun

1. kænˈtɒn a port in SE China, capital of Guangdong province, on the Zhu Jiang (Pearl River): the first Chinese port open to European trade. Pop: 3 881 000 (2005 est) Chinese namesGuangzhouKwangchow
2. ˈkæntən a city in the US, in NE Ohio. Pop: 80 806 (2000)

Derived Forms

• ˈcantonal, adjective

Other Words From

• canton·al adjective
• canton·al·ism noun
• un·cantoned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of canton¹

1525–35; < Middle French < Old Provençal, derivative of can side, edge ( cant ² )

Word History and Origins

Origin of canton¹

C16: from Old French: corner, division, from Italian cantone, from canto corner, from Latin canthus iron rim; see cant ²

Example Sentences

While he hasn’t examined the flag personally, Bridgman said high-resolution images show the blue canton is wool or a wool blend, typical of Civil War-era flags.

From Seattle Times

In their study, the researchers took a close look at 90 permanent grassland areas on over 30 farms in the canton of Solothurn in the north of Switzerland.

From Science Daily

The initiative also secured the required double-majority: getting the popular vote, and also majorities in most of the country's 26 cantons.

From BBC

"We've got 14 wolf packs in the canton now," he said.

From BBC

Among four kinds of noodles, the classic pancit canton looks exceptionally pretty, like large-scale confetti with peppery purple radish rounds, strips of long bean and julienned carrot, strewn with delicate cilantro sprouts.

From Seattle Times