CANTON

A song or canto [Obs.] Write loyal cantons of contemned love. Shak.

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.

A small community or clan.

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.

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.

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.

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