[kan-tn,-ton,kan-tonfor 1–7;kan-ton,-tohn,or, especially Brit., -toonfor 8]Origin
can·ton
/ˈkæntn,-tɒn,kænˈtɒnfor 1–7;kænˈtɒn,-ˈtoʊn,or, especially Brit., -ˈtunfor 8/Show Spelled[kan-tn,-ton,kan-tonfor 1–7;kan-ton,-tohn,or, especially Brit., -toonfor 8]Show IPA
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)
6.
to divide into parts or portions.
7.
to divide into cantons or territorial districts.
8.
to allot quarters to (soldiers, troops, etc.).
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Cantonedis always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
So is bezoar. Does it mean:
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
1520s, from M.Fr. canton, from It. (Lombard dialect) cantone "region," especially in the mountains, augmentive of L. canto "section of a country," lit. "corner" (see cant (2)). Originally in English a term in heraldry and flag descriptions; applied to the sovereign states of