a small administrative division of a country
"The Swiss flag features a red background with a white cross, representing its status as a collection of independent cantons within the federal state."
A division of a political unit.
"The old bard began his recital by singing a canton about the bravery of the knights."
One of the states comprising the Swiss Confederation.
A song or canto.
In plain English: A canton is an independent district within a larger country, often used to describe specific regions of Switzerland that keep their own local laws and symbols.
"The flag features six stars above the canton, which represents unity among different regions."
Usage: Use "canton" to refer specifically to one of Switzerland's 26 semi-autonomous regions or historically to quarters within Chinese cities, rather than using it for generic districts in other countries. Do not confuse this term with the more general word "county," which applies to administrative divisions in many English-speaking nations but lacks the specific political autonomy associated with Swiss cantons.
divide into cantons, of a country
"The Swiss government decided to reorganize the nation by dividing it into smaller administrative units called cantons."
To delineate as a separate district.
"The new city plan will canton the industrial zone from the residential areas to reduce pollution exposure."
In plain English: To canton means to arrange troops into specific camps for military organization.
"The storm canted the tall tree slightly to one side."
Several places in China:
"In ancient times, several cantons were established within Chinese territory to administer local affairs."
Guangzhou, the capital and largest city of Guangdong, China.
"The bustling port city known as Canton serves as a major gateway to southern China."
The word "canton" entered English in the 1530s via Middle French and originally meant a corner or angle. While it was first used to describe heraldic designs around 1570, its meaning shifted by about 1600 to refer to geographic regions divided into sections.