Cant

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The words "cant" and "canting" have several meanings.

• Cant is insincere speech, similar to hypocrisy. The difference between the two is sometimes explained thus: the hypocrite is entirely cynical and doesn't even believe the snake-oil he or she is expounding; while the speaker of cant does have conceptual faith in what he or she says—but won't actually be practicing what he or she is preaching.
• Cant is term for a secret language, a cryptolect. The term especially refers to those used by criminals and their hangers-on.
  • Thieves' cant refers to the mysterious speech of rogues, beggar and kids, thieves, etc. More information about this language can be found in the Canting Dictionary.
  • Shelta, used by the Irish Travellers.
• Cant on a road or railway is the difference in elevation of the two sides of the track to help go around curves.
• Cant describes how far from vertical the barrel-to-scope axis is on firearms; i.e. how far it tilts to one side.
• Cant is an edge, border, nook, or angle. This use of the word likely derives from Old French and is the basis for the term canton and the term decant.
• Cant is often used in instant messaging as a shorter form of the contraction can't.
• CANT was an Italian aircraft company that built aircraft for the Regia Aeronautica during World War II.
• Canting is a type of puzzle similar to a rebus. The term is used in heraldry where it refers to a coat of arms containing a pun on the name of the owner. See Canting arms.
• Canting may also refer to a tool used for making Batik. The word is pronounced chahn-ting in Indonesian.
• Cant or Canted is also an architectural term, relating to angles.
• cant, canter and canting refers to a form of worship singing. and is related to chant and cantata
• A 1931 play by Kaj Munk.
• A Cant is a form of spell referred to in some fantasy novels.
• the Cant a place in England
• For people named Cant, see Cant (surname)

[edit] See also

• cantor