canton
|can-ton|
/ˈkæntən/
corner → territorial division
Etymology
'canton' originates from French 'canton', ultimately borrowed from Italian 'cantone', where the root 'cant-' referred to a 'corner' or 'angle'.
'canton' changed from Italian 'cantone' into French 'canton' and was later adopted into English as 'canton', shifting from a sense of 'corner' to denote territorial subdivisions.
Initially it meant 'corner' (a physical angle or corner); over time it evolved into the current meaning of 'an administrative district or subdivision, especially a Swiss state.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an administrative division or region, especially a member state of the Swiss Confederation; more generally, a district or subdivision of a country or department.
He was elected to the cantonal parliament of his canton.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a territorial subdivision used for administrative or electoral purposes in some countries (for example, France historically used cantons as subdivisions of arrondissements).
The reform redrew the boundaries of several cantons for electoral balance.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/29 00:45