n.; pl. Cantos [ It. canto, fr. L. cantus singing, song. See Chant. ] 1. One of the chief divisions of a long poem; a book. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mus.) The highest vocal part; the air or melody in choral music; anciently the tenor, now the soprano. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖Canto fermo ety>[ It. ] (Mus.), the plain ecclesiastical chant in cathedral service; the plain song. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. canton, augm. of OF. cant edge, corner. See 1st Cant. ] 1. A small portion; a division; a compartment. [ 1913 Webster ]

That little canton of land called the “English pale” Davies. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A small community or clan. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The king gave us the arms of England to be borne in a canton in our arms. Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A song or canto [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Write loyal cantons of contemned love. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

They canton out themselves a little Goshen in the intellectual world. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mil.) To allot separate quarters to, as to different parts or divisions of an army or body of troops. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to a canton or cantons; of the nature of a canton. [ 1913 Webster ]

A soft, white or colored silk fabric, of a gauzy texture and wavy appearance, used for ladies' scarfs, shawls, bonnet trimmings, etc.; -- called also Oriental crape. De Colange. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. (Her.) Having a charge in each of the four corners; -- said of a cross on a shield, and also of the shield itself. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Arch.) Having the angles marked by, or decorated with, projecting moldings or small columns; as, a cantoned pier or pilaster. [ 1913 Webster ]

See Cotton flannel. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To divide into cantons or small districts. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. cantonnement. ] A town or village, or part of a town or village, assigned to a body of troops for quarters; temporary shelter or place of rest for an army; quarters. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ When troops are sheltered in huts or quartered in the houses of the people during any suspension of hostilities, they are said to be in cantonment, or to be cantoned. In India, permanent military stations, or military towns, are termed cantonments. [ 1913 Webster ]