Definition of "canton" in English

noun

1. A division of a political unit.

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

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.

verb

1. (transitive) To delineate as a separate district.

2. (transitive) To divide into cantons.

3. (transitive) To quarter troops by requisitioning housing from the civilian population.

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

4. (intransitive) To be allotted such quarters.

   • 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.

noun

1. (obsolete) A song or canto.