GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 7 definitions

1.       
   Cant , n. [OF., edge, angle, prof. from L. canthus the iron ring round a carriage wheel, a wheel, Gr.  the corner of the eye, the felly of a wheel; cf. W. cant the stake or tire of a wheel. Cf. Canthus, Canton, Cantle.]
   A corner; angle; niche. [Obs.]
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   The first and principal person in the temple was Irene, or Peace; she was placed aloft in a cant.
   B. Jonson.
   
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   An outer or external angle.
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   An inclination from a horizontal or vertical line; a slope or bevel; a tilt.
   Totten.
   
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   A sudden thrust, push, kick, or other impulse, producing a bias or change of direction; also, the bias or turn so give; as, to give a ball a cant.
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   (Coopering) A segment forming a side piece in the head of a cask.
   Knight.
   
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   (Mech.) A segment of he rim of a wooden cogwheel.
   Knight.
   
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   (Naut.) A piece of wood laid upon the deck of a vessel to support the bulkheads.
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   Cant frames, Cant timbers (Naut.), timber at the two ends of a ship, rising obliquely from the keel.
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2.       
   Cant, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Canted; p. pr. & vb. n. Canting.]
   To incline; to set at an angle; to tilt over; to tip upon the edge; as, to cant a cask; to cant a ship.
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   To give a sudden turn or new direction to; as, to cant round a stick of timber; to cant a football.
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   To cut off an angle from, as from a square piece of timber, or from the head of a bolt.
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3.       
   Cant, n. [Prob. from OF. cant, F. chant, singing, in allusion to the singing or whining tine of voice used by beggars, fr. L. cantus. See Chant.]
   An affected, singsong mode of speaking.
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   The idioms and peculiarities of speech in any sect, class, or occupation.
   Goldsmith.
   
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   The cant of any profession.
   Dryden.
   
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   The use of religious phraseology without understanding or sincerity; empty, solemn speech, implying what is not felt; hypocrisy.
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   They shall hear no cant from me.
   F. W. Robertson
   
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   Vulgar jargon; slang; the secret language spoken by gypsies, thieves, tramps, or beggars.
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4.       
   Cant , a. Of the nature of cant; affected; vulgar.
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   To introduce and multiply cant words in the most ruinous corruption in any language.
   Swift.
   
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5.       
   Cant, v. i.
   To speak in a whining voice, or an affected, singsong tone.
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   To make whining pretensions to goodness; to talk with an affectation of religion, philanthropy, etc.; to practice hypocrisy; as, a canting fanatic.
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   The rankest rogue that ever canted.
   Beau. & Fl.
   
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   To use pretentious language, barbarous jargon, or technical terms; to talk with an affectation of learning.
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   The doctor here,
   When he discourseth of dissection,
   Of vena cava and of vena porta,
   The meseræum and the mesentericum,
   What does he else but cant.
   B. Jonson
   
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   That uncouth affected garb of speech, or canting language, if I may so call it.
   Bp. Sanderson.
   
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6.       
   Cant, n. [Prob. from OF. cant, equiv. to L. quantum; cf. F. encan, fr. L. in quantum, i.e. “for how much?”] A call for bidders at a public sale; an auction. “To sell their leases by cant.” 
   Swift.
   
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7.       
   Cant, v. t. to sell by auction, or bid a price at a sale by auction. [Archaic]
   Swift.
   
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