canton
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1can·ton
noun \ˈkan-tən, -ˌtän\Definition of CANTON
: a small territorial division of a country: as a : one of the states of the Swiss confederation b : a division of a French arrondissement
— can·ton·al \ˈkan-tə-nəl, kan-ˈtä-nəl\ adjective
Origin of CANTON
Middle French, from Italian cantone, from canto corner, from Latin canthus iron tire — more at cant
First Known Use: 1522
Other Government and Politics Terms
2canton
nounDefinition of CANTON
2
: the top inner quarter of a flag
3
: the dexter chief region of a heraldic field
Origin of CANTON
Middle French, from Old Occitan, from cant edge, corner, from Latin canthus
First Known Use: 1572
Rhymes with CANTON
Can·ton
geographical name \ˈkan-tən\canton
noun (Concise Encyclopedia)Political subdivision of Switzerland, France, and some other European countries. Each of Switzerland's 26 cantons and half-cantons has its own constitution, legislature, executive, and judiciary. Five preserve the ancient democratic assembly, in which all citizens meet; the remaining 21 have a cantonal legislature with elective representatives and usually proportional representation. In France, the canton is a territorial and administrative subdivision of an arrondissement but not an actual unit of local government.
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