canton Definition
can·ton (kan′tən, -tän′; kan tän′; for vt. 2 kan tän′, -tōn′ & Brit, kən to̵̅o̅n′)
noun
- any of the political divisions of a country or territory; specif.,
- any of the states in the Swiss Republic
- a division of an arrondissement in France
- Heraldry a small, square section of a shield, usually in the upper dexter corner
- a rectangular section in a flag, in the upper corner nearest the staff
Etymology: Fr < It cantone < LL cantus: see cant
transitive verb
- to divide into cantons
- to assign quarters to (troops, etc.); quarter
canton Related Forms
can′·tonal adjective
Canton Definition
Can·ton (kan tän′; for 2 kant′'n)
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
- ‹ canto
- ‹ cantle
- ‹ canting
- ‹ cantina
- ‹ cantillation
- ‹ cantilever bridge
- ‹ cantilever
- ‹ cantilena
- ‹ Canticles
- ‹ canticle
- Canton crepe ›
- Canton flannel ›
- Cantonese ›
- cantonment ›
- cantor ›
- cantrip ›
- cantus ›
- cantus firmus ›
- canty ›
- Canuck ›

