cants

Cant, and the plural cants, is a term used in several distinct fields with different meanings. It can refer to an inclination or tilt, a rough-cut timber piece, or a specialized sense in language and speech. The connections among these senses are historical rather than thematic.

In engineering, architecture, and rail transport, cant describes the inclination of a surface or structure. A cant is a slope or bevel such as the banking or superelevation of railroad tracks, where the rails are tilted on curves to improve stability. Cant can also refer more generally to any beveled or angled edge or surface used to fit components together or to load-bearing geometries in construction.

In woodworking and the lumber industry, a cant is a rough-cut piece of timber produced from a log, typically with a rectangular cross-section and edges that have been squared. Cants serve as intermediate stock that can be further processed into boards, beams, or other finished lumber products.

In linguistics and sociolinguistics, cant denotes specialized language or jargon used by a particular group. It can also carry a connotation of insincerity or hypocrisy when referring to canting speech—talk that sounds pious or principled but is not sincerely held.

A miscellaneous use in trades and manufacturing treats cant as a wedge-shaped spacer or filler applied to align parts or compensate for curvature. While related by the general idea of tilting or aligning, these senses cover distinct applications across professions.