Main Entry: ¹can·ton

Pronunciation: \ˈkan-t^ən, -ˌtän\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle French, from Italian cantone, from canto corner, from Latin canthus iron tire — more at cant

Date: 1522

: 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-n^əl\ adjective