early 14c., "a part, a portion," also "a section cut out of anything" (mid-15c.), from Old North French cantel "corner, piece" (Old French chantel, Modern French chanteau), from Medieval Latin cantellus, diminutive of cantus "corner" (see cant (n.2)).
cantharides
canticle
cantilever
cantina
canting
cantle
canto
Canton
canton
Cantonese
cantonment