Definitions for: Canton


[n] a small administrative division of a country
[n] a city on the Zhu Jiang delta in southern China; a major deep-water port
[v] divide into cantons, of a country
[v] provide housing for, of military personnel



Webster (1913) Definition: Can"ton, n.
A song or canto [Obs.]

Write loyal cantons of contemned love. --Shak.


Can"ton, n. [F. canton, augm. of OF. cant edge, corner.
See 1st Cant.]
1. A small portion; a division; a compartment.

That little canton of land called the ``English
pale'' --Davies.

There is another piece of Holbein's, . . . in which,
in six several cantons, the several parts of our
Savior's passion are represented. --Bp. Burnet.

2. A small community or clan.

3. A small territorial district; esp. one of the twenty-two
independent states which form the Swiss federal republic;
in France, a subdivision of an arrondissement. See
Arrondissement.

4. (Her.) A division of a shield occupying one third part of
the chief, usually on the dexter side, formed by a
perpendicular line from the top of the shield, meeting a
horizontal line from the side.

The king gave us the arms of England to be borne in
a canton in our arms. --Evelyn.


Can"ton, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cantoned; p. pr. & vb.
n. Cantoning.] [Cf. F. cantonner.]
1. To divide into small parts or districts; to mark off or
separate, as a distinct portion or division.

They canton out themselves a little Goshen in the
intellectual world. --Locke.

2. (Mil.) To allot separate quarters to, as to different
parts or divisions of an army or body of troops.

Synonyms: billet, Guangzhou, Kuangchou, Kwangchow, quarter

See Also: accommodate, administrative district, administrative division, carve up, China, city, Communist China, dissever, divide, lodge, mainland China, metropolis, People's Republic of China, PRC, Red China, separate, split, split up, Swiss canton, territorial division, urban center

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