Canton
/ˈkæn.tən/noun
A territorial subdivision, especially one of the states or administrative units of Switzerland.
Did you know?“Canton” also became the English name for Guangzhou because European traders adapted the city’s name through Portuguese and other coastal trading languages, not because it was originally an English place-name.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
kanthos
“Corner, especially the angle or corner of the eye”
Classical Latin
Latin
canthus
“A corner, edge, or tire rim; possibly borrowed from Greek”
Medieval Italian
Italian
canto
“Corner, edge, or side”
13th–14th Century
Italian
cantone
“Large corner or district; an augmentative form of canto”
14th Century
Old French
canton
“Corner, district, or division of territory”
15th Century
English
canton
“A district or territorial division”
Modern English
English
canton
“A territorial subdivision; also the traditional English name for Guangzhou”