canton Hear it!

canton Definition

can·ton (kantən, -tän′; kan tän; for vt. 2 kan tän, -tōn & Brit, kən to̵̅o̅n)

noun

  1. any of the political divisions of a country or territory; specif.,
    1. any of the states in the Swiss Republic
    2. a division of an arrondissement in France
    1. Heraldry a small, square section of a shield, usually in the upper dexter corner
    2. a rectangular section in a flag, in the upper corner nearest the staff

Etymology: Fr < It cantone < LL cantus: see cant

transitive verb

  1. to divide into cantons
  2. to assign quarters to (troops, etc.); quarter

canton Related Forms

can·tonal adjective

Canton Definition

Can·ton (kan tän; for 2 kant'n)

  1. Guangzhou

  2. Etymology: after Canton, suburb of Boston, named for the Chinese city

    city in EC Ohio: pop. 81,000

canton Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • surround: Map of West Bank ( Dark Green & Yellow ). Yellow area indicates Palestinian cantons surrounded by the wall.
  • divide: When we left you yesterday we ascended the mountain which divides the cantons of Berne & Unterwalden.

Adjective modifier

  • Swiss: Only real success in Belgium, which broke away from Dutch control, some success in German states and Swiss cantons.
  • small: Their land is now called Israel and they are forced to live in small cantons like the native American Indians were forced to live.
  • first: In the first canton was the union with a Roman figure II in the center of the Union.
  • Protestant: Cromwell wanted to split the Protestant cantons of Switzerland off to join a Protestant League, with England at its head.
  • certain: Note: ( a ) *These holidays may not be observed in certain cantons.
  • powerful: A Swiss-style system, with a weak central government and powerful cantons, is probably the best solution.

Modifies a noun

  • gules: Another Coat: Argent, an ass's head erased Sable, a canton Gules.
  • ermine: He beares to his armes " sable 3 bells argent a canton ermine " .
  • system: Well disciplined with strict internal pass laws and little corruption, it had a political structure resembling the canton system of Switzerland.

Noun used with modifier

mountain: The following lowland and mountain cantons were visited: Basel, Aargau, Zürich, Luzern and Uri.

Browse dictionary entries near canton

  1. canto
  2. cantle
  3. canting
  4. cantina
  5. cantillation
  6. cantilever bridge
  7. cantilever
  8. cantilena
  9. Canticles
  10. canticle
  1. Canton crepe
  2. Canton flannel
  3. Cantonese
  4. cantonment
  5. cantor
  6. cantrip
  7. cantus
  8. cantus firmus
  9. canty
  10. Canuck