The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Canton \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.
      [1913 Webster]

            They canton out themselves a little Goshen in the
            intellectual world.                   --Locke.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Mil.) To allot separate quarters to, as to different
      parts or divisions of an army or body of troops.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Canton \Can"ton\, n.
   A song or canto [Obs.]
   [1913 Webster]

         Write loyal cantons of contemned love.   --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Canton \Can"ton\, n. [F. canton, augm. of OF. cant edge, corner.
   See 1st Cant.]
   1. A small portion; a division; a compartment.
      [1913 Webster]

            That little canton of land called the "English pale"
                                                  --Davies.
      [1913 Webster]

            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.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A small community or clan.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

            The king gave us the arms of England to be borne in
            a canton in our arms.                 --Evelyn.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

Canton
    n 1: a city on the Zhu Jiang delta in southern China; the
         capital of Guangdong province and a major deep-water port
         [syn: Guangzhou, Kuangchou, Kwangchow, Canton]
    2: a small administrative division of a country
    v 1: provide housing for (military personnel) [syn: quarter,
         billet, canton]
    2: divide into cantons, of a country