cants

Noun

cant (usually uncountable, plural cants)

1. (countable, usually) An argot, the jargon of a particular class or subgroup.
   • He had the look of a prince, but the cant of a fishmonger.

   Synonyms:

   argot, jargon, slang

2. (countable, uncountable, usually) A private or secret language used by a religious sect, gang, or other group.

   Synonyms:

   argot, jargon, slang

3. (usually) A language spoken by some Irish Travellers; Shelta.
4. (derogatory, usually) Empty, hypocritical talk.
   • He is too well grounded for all your philoſophical Cant to hurt.1749, Henry Fielding, “Containing Such Very Deep and Grave Matters, that Some Readers, Perhaps, May Not Relish It”, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume II, London: A[ndrew] Millar, […]...
5. (usually) Whining speech, such as that used by beggars.
6. (countable, usually) A blazon of a coat of arms that makes a pun upon the name (or, less often, some attribute or function) of the bearer, canting arms.

See all 31 meanings of cant