cante

n. [ F. cantine bottle case, canteen (cf. Sp. & It. cantina cellar, bottle case), either contr. fr. It. canovettina, dim. of canova cellar, or, more likely, fr. OF. cant. corner, It. & Sp. canto. See 1st Cant. ] (Mil.) 1. A small vessel used by soldiers or hikers for carrying water, liquor, or other drink. [ Written also cantine. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In 1910 in the English service the canteen is made of wood and holds three pints; in the United States it is usually a tin flask. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A chest containing culinary and other vessels for military officers in a garrison. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The sutler's shop in a garrison. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Hence: A store or small shop within a larger establishment where refreshments and sometimes other supplies are sold. At a military base the canteen may be as large as a general store; within a school or small company it may be only a small counter with very limited supplies, or a snack bar. [ PJC ]

5. A temporary location where food is dispensed during an emergency. [ PJC ]

n. See Cantle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ An abbreviation of Canterbury. See Canterbury gallop, under Canterbury. ] 1. A moderate and easy gallop adapted to pleasure riding. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The canter is a thoroughly artificial pace, at first extremely tiring to the horse, and generally only to be produced in him by the restraint of a powerful bit, which compels him to throw a great part of his weight on his haunches . . . There is so great a variety in the mode adopted by different horses for performing the canter, that no single description will suffice, nor indeed is it easy . . . to define any one of them. J. H. Walsh. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A rapid or easy passing over. [ 1913 Webster ]

A rapid canter in the Times over all the topics. Sir J. Stephen. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Cantered p. pr. & vb. n. Cantering. ] To move in a canter. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To cause, as a horse, to go at a canter; to ride (a horse) at a canter. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who cants or whines; a beggar. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who makes hypocritical pretensions to goodness; one who uses canting language. [ 1913 Webster ]

The day when he was a canter and a rebel. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]