\Can"ton\, n.
A song or canto [Obs.]
      Write loyal cantons of contemned love.   --Shak.

\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.

\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.