Cant

Cant is a term with multiple meanings used in different fields. In linguistics and common usage, it most often denotes a specialized jargon or canting language used by a group to exclude outsiders or to obscure meaning. In architecture and engineering, cant also refers to an intentional incline or slope given to a surface, such as a road or railway track, to improve drainage or counteract forces on curves. The word can also function as a verb meaning to tilt or angle something, or to speak in cant.

Cant as jargon describes the technical or insider vocabulary particular to a profession, organization, or subculture. Examples include legal cant, academic cant, or thieves’ cant. This sense emphasizes obscurity or pretentiousness and can hinder understanding for those outside the group.

Cant in engineering describes a cross-slope or banking of surfaces. On railways, cant, or superelevation, is the height difference between rails on a curve, expressed in millimeters or degrees. Proper cant improves stability and passenger comfort, while improper cant can cause wheel-rail wear or dynamic issues. On roads, cant (cross-slope) is the tilt of the surface from edge to edge for drainage and water shedding.

Cant is also used as a surname and appears in place names in various regions. The different senses of cant are etymologically unrelated, reflecting the word’s divergent historical paths across language, engineering, and culture.