Definition of "cantle" in English

noun

1. (obsolete) A splinter, slice, or sliver broken off something.

   • See how this river comes me cranking in, / And cuts me from the best of all my land / A huge half-moon, a monstrous cantle out.
   • Their armors forged were of metal frail; / On every side thereof huge cantles flies; / The land was strewed all with plate and mail, / That on the earth, on that their warm blood lies.

2. The raised back of a saddle.

3. (Scotland) The top of the head.

4. (Scotland) On many styles of sporran, a metal arc along the top of the pouch, usually fronting the clasp.

verb

1. (obsolete, transitive) To cut into pieces.

2. (obsolete, transitive) To cut out from.