<B>cant frames,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the frames or ribs of a ship which are near the extremities, and are canted away from the perpendicular or straight line. </DL>
<A NAME="cantharides">
<B>cantharides, </B>noun, pl. of <B>cantharis.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a preparation of dried beetles (usually powdered), especially the Spanish fly, used externally as a rubefacient and vesicant (formerly considered an aphrodisiac). </DL>
<A NAME="cantharidin">
<B>cantharidin, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a volatile crystalline compound found in blister beetles; the vesicating principle of cantharides. <BR> <I>Ex. A small cantharidin plaster is left on the skin overnight and raises a blister (Scientific American).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="cantharidism">
<B>cantharidism, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> an illness due to the use of cantharides. </DL>
<A NAME="cantharidize">
<B>cantharidize, </B>transitive verb, <B>-dized,</B> <B>-dizing.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> to treat with cantharides. </DL>
<A NAME="cantharis">
<B>cantharis, </B>noun, pl. <B>-tharides.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the Spanish fly, a blister beetle. </DL>
<A NAME="canthook">
<B>cant hook,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a pole with a movable hook at one end, used to grip and turn over logs; cant dog. </DL>
<A NAME="canthus">
<B>canthus, </B>noun, pl. <B>-thi.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the outer or inner angle or corner of the eye, where the upper and lower lids meet. </DL>
<A NAME="canticle">
<B>canticle, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a short song, hymn, or chant used in church services. </DL>
<A NAME="canticleofcanticles">
<B>Canticle of Canticles,</B> <B>=Song of Solomon,</B> in the Douay Bible.</DL>
<A NAME="canticles">
<B>Canticles, </B>noun. =Song of Solomon.</DL>
<A NAME="cantiga">
<B>cantiga, </B>noun, pl. <B>-gas.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a short lyric poem composed in the 1200's and 1300's in Spanish or Portuguese and influenced by the Provencal troubadours. </DL>
<A NAME="cantilena">
<B>cantilena, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a melodic composition, or a melodious section in a composition, for instruments. <BR> <I>Ex. He allowed his melodic invention to run freely in a soaring, long-drawn cantilena (London Times).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>such a composition or section for singing. </DL>
<A NAME="cantilever">
<B>cantilever, </B>noun, verb, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> a large, projecting bracket or beam that is supported at one end only. A cantilever is usually designed to bear a weight or structure over a space where supports cannot be placed or are not desired, such as for supporting balconies, cornices, and the like. Some aircraft wings are cantilevers. <DD><I>v.t. </I> to build (something) with cantilevers or a cantilever. <BR> <I>Ex. The room in which [he] works is cantilevered out over a sheer cliff (New Yorker).</I> <DD><I>v.i. </I> to extend out, as a cantilever does. <BR> <I>Ex. In this plan the beam cantilevers out too far for balance.</I> <DD><I>adj. </I> formed on the principle of the cantilever or with the use of cantilevers. <BR> <I>Ex. Of cantilever construction, four of the five rooms hang out in space with no visible means of support (Wall Street Journal).</I> <DD> Also, <B>cantalever,</B> <B>cantaliver.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="cantileverbridge">
<B>cantilever bridge,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a bridge made of two cantilevers whose projecting ends meet but do not support each other. </DL>
<A NAME="cantillate">
<B>cantillate, </B>transitive verb, <B>-lated,</B> <B>-lating.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> to recite with musical tones; to chant, especially to chant with a degree of musical improvisation, as the cantor in a synagogue. noun <B>cantillation.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="cantina">
<B>cantina, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Southwestern U.S.) a saloon. </DL>
<A NAME="cantingcoin">
<B>canting coin,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a triangular wooden block with which a barrel is chocked to keep it from rolling when stowed, as on a ship. </DL>
<A NAME="cantino">
<B>cantino, </B>noun, pl. <B>-nos.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the treble string of a lute, violin, or some other stringed instruments. </DL>
<A NAME="cantle">
<B>cantle, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the part of a saddle that sticks up at the back. <BR> <I>Ex. The undersides of both pommel and cantle are set with Moghul jade plaques inlaid with gold and bespattered with rubies (Observer).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>a section or segment cut out of anything; a part; portion. <BR> <I>Ex. The huge cantle which is ... cut out of the holiday (Charles Lamb).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="cantlet">
<B>cantlet, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a small cantle; a little piece. </DL>
<A NAME="canto">
<B>canto, </B>noun, pl. <B>-tos.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>one of the main divisions of a long poem. A canto of a poem is like a chapter of a novel. <BR> <I>Ex. There is only a faintly discernible ghost of grandeur in the fading villa where Byron lived while he was writing the fourth canto of "Childe Harold" (Newsweek).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Music.) the soprano part; the melody. </DL>
<A NAME="cantofermo">
canto fermo, =cantus firmus.</DL>
<A NAME="canton">
<B>canton, </B>noun, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a small part or political division of a country, especially: <DD><B> a. </B>one of the 22 sovereign political units that form the Swiss confederation. <DD><B> b. </B>one of the judicial units into which a French arrondissement (the largest subdivision of a department) is divided. <DD><B> 2. </B>the upper corner of a flag next to the staff where a special design appears. <DD><B> 3. </B>(Heraldry.) a square division occupying an upper corner of an escutcheon, etc. <DD><B> 4. </B>(Obsolete.) a division or part of anything. <DD><I>v.t. </I> <B>1. </B>to allot quarters to or provide quarters for (soldiers). <DD><B> 2. </B>to divide into parts; subdivide. <BR> <I>Ex. He cantoned out the country to his men ... (Daniel Defoe).</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>(Obsolete.) to separate or sever by division from; cut out from a whole. </DL>
<A NAME="canton">
<B>Canton, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or designating articles made or originating in the city of Canton, China. <BR> <I>Ex. Canton china, Canton enamel, Canton porcelain.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="cantonal">
<B>cantonal, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or having to do with a canton or cantons. <BR> <I>Ex. cantonal elections, cantonal government.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="cantonalism">
<B>cantonalism, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the cantonal system of administrative government. </DL>
<A NAME="cantoncrepe">
<B>Canton crepe,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a soft silk cloth with a crinkled surface. </DL>
<A NAME="cantonese">
<B>Cantonese, </B>noun, pl. <B>-ese,</B> adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a person born or living in Canton, China. <DD><B> 2. </B>the Chinese dialect spoken in or near Canton. <DD><I>adj. </I> of Canton (China), its people, or their dialect. </DL>
<A NAME="cantonflannel">
<B>Canton flannel,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a strong cotton cloth that is soft and fleecy on one side. </DL>
<A NAME="cantonment">
<B>cantonment, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a place where soldiers live; quarters for soldiers. <DD><B> 2. </B>the act of cantoning. <DD><B> 3. </B>(formerly) a permanent military post in British India. </DL>
<A NAME="cantor">
<B>cantor, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the person who chants the prayers in a synagogue and leads the congregation in the worship. <BR> <I>Ex. Unlike the choirmaster or organist in a Christian church, the cantor (although not ordained) holds a semisacred office; the prayers he sings are an integral part of the service, and he must be trained in Jewish ritual (Time).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>the person who leads the singing of a choir or congregation. </DL>
<A NAME="cantorate">
<B>cantorate, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the position or office of a cantor. <DD><B> 2. </B>the period during which one is a cantor. <DD><B> 3. </B>cantors as a group. </DL>
<A NAME="cantorial">
<B>cantorial, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or having to do with a cantor. <BR> <I>Ex. cantorial chants.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="cantpurchase">
<B>cant purchase,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a tackle having one of its blocks secured to the masthead of a whaler and the other to the hook in the blubber of a dead whale alongside. It is used for turning the whale over while it is being stripped or flensed. </DL>
<A NAME="cantrip">
<B>cantrip, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a spell or charm of witchcraft; a witch's trick or mischievous device. <DD><B> 2. </B>any playfully mischievous trick. </DL>
<A NAME="cantus">
<B>cantus, </B>noun, pl. <B>-tus.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a song or melody, especially an ecclesiastical melody. <DD><B> 2. </B>the principal voice. </DL>
<A NAME="cantusfirmus">
<B>cantus firmus,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (Music.) <DD><B> 1. </B><B>=plain song.</B> <DD><B> 2. </B>a melody held unchanged throughout a composition, above or below which other melodic or contrapuntal parts are added and varied. </DL>
<A NAME="cantusplanus">
cantus planus, =plain song.</DL>
<A NAME="canty">
<B>canty, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Scottish.) <DD><B> 1. </B>showing gladness and cheerfulness. <BR> <I>Ex. Then at her door the canty dame would sit, as any linnet gay (Wordsworth).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>cheerfully brisk or active; lively. </DL>
<A NAME="canuck">
<B>Canuck, </B>noun, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> (U.S. Slang and Canadian Informal.) <DD><B> 1. </B>Canadian. <BR> <I>Ex. Maybe it'll help some Canucks realize what a great country we have and show them what a fine job can be done in Canada by Canadians (Maclean's).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>French Canadian. <BR> <I>Ex. La Croix was a thick-set, hooknosed Canuck (George Mathewson).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="canula">
<B>canula, </B>noun, pl. <B>-lae.</B> =cannula.</DL>
<A NAME="canumvenaticorum">
<B>Canum Venaticorum,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> genitive of <B>Canes Venatici.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="canute">
<B>Canute, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the ancient English king who, according to legend, showed his courtiers he was not infallible by ordering the tide to stop advancing. <DD><B> 2. </B>a person who tries to hold back an irresistible force or process. <BR> <I>Ex. He warned them not to get the reputation of Canutes resisting new techniques of farming (London Times).</I> adj. <B>Canutelike.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="canutism">
<B>Canutism, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the practice of a Canute; any attempt to hold back or reverse change. <BR> <I>Ex. [The] proposal to cut bank rate by 2 per cent was ... not so much conservatism as Canutism (Manchester Guardian Weekly).</I> </DL>
