Canton \Can"ton\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cantoned; p. pr. & vb. n. Cantoning.]

[Cf. F. cantonner.]

1. 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.

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

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Canton \Can"ton\, n. A song or canto [Obs.]

Write loyal cantons of contemned love. --Shak.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Canton \Can"ton\, n. [F. canton, augm. of OF. cant edge, corner. See 1st Cant.]

1. 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.

2. A small community or clan.

3. 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.

4. (Her.) 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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)