Canton

/ˈkæntən/ · noun

Meaning

A division of a political unit..

Definitions by Sense

1. A division of a political unit.
2. A small community or clan.
3. A subdivision of a flag, the rectangular inset on the upper hoist (i.e., flagpole) side, the upper-left quadrant of a flag, (the stars of the US national flag are in a canton).
4. (heraldry) A division of a shield occupying one third of the chief, usually on the dexter side, formed by a perpendicular line from the top meeting a horizontal line from the side.
5. (transitive) To delineate as a separate district.
6. (transitive) To divide into cantons.
7. (transitive) To quarter troops by requisitioning housing from the civilian population.
8. (intransitive) To be allotted such quarters.

Example Sentences

These three millions live in a small canton of Egypt which cannot maintain twenty thousand people

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

To the end of husbanding the supplies, he will cause to be cantoned in the cities and villages the greatest possible numbers of troops

An army, falling back upon its lines of magazines, may … make its retreat with more security than one which has to canton, to subsist, and to extend itself to find cantonments.

Write loyal cantons of contemnèd love / And sing them loud even in the dead of night.

Synonyms for canton

Antonyms for canton

Related Words

Word Forms

• cantons
• kanton
• cantoning
• cantoned

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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