n.
-
/ˈkantɒn, kanˈtɒn/
a political or administrative subdivision of a country.
▸a state of the Swiss Confederation.
-
/ˈkant(ə)n/
Heraldry a square charge smaller than a quarter and positioned in the upper (usually dexter) corner of a shield.
Derivative
- cantonal
/ˈkantən(ə)l, kanˈtəʊn(ə)l/
adj.
Etymology
C16: from OFr., lit. ‘corner’, from Provençal, rel. to med. L. cantus (see cant2).