canton

¹can·ton

noun \ˈkan-t^ən, -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-n^əl\ 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

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

Rhymes with CANTON

Canton, plantain, Scranton