Sc. and north. dial. Also 4–6 kant, 5 kaunt. [Common in early times (13–14th c.) in the allit. phrase ‘kant and keen.’ App. the same word as mod.Du. kant ‘neat, clever,’ in phr. kant en klaar quite ready; also East Fris. kant; considered by Franck to have been developed out of the sb. kant edge, etc. (see CANT sb.1); cf. the connection of idea in ‘keen’ and ‘edge.’ The actual historical relation between the Low German and the northern English word does not appear. Hence CANTY, Flem. and LG. kantig.]
Bold, brisk, courageous, hearty, lusty, lively, hale. The Sc. sense leans to ‘Lively, merry, brisk’; cf. Jamieson, who compares ‘cant men’ (armed followers) with ‘merry men’ of the ballads.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 8943. Iuus þat war sa cant [Gött. & Trin. crabbed] and kene.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron., 50. Knoute com with his kythe, þat kant was and kene.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, VIII. 280. The kyng … Vith his men that war cant and keyn.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 2195. The knyghte coueride on his knees with a kaunt herte.
c. 1440. Gaw. & Gol., ii. 2 (Jam.). Cant men and cruel.
c. 1450. Henryson, Mor. Fab., 5. Ane Cocke … Right cant and crous.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, VIII. Prol. 42. The cadgear callis furth his capill wyth crakis waill cant.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 517. Alss blyth and als rejosit, And in him self that tyme als crous and kant.
1674. Ray, N. C. Wds., 9. Cant, strong lusty; ‘Very cant, God yield you,’ i.e. Very strong and lusty, God reward you. Chesh.
1849. C. Brontë, Shirley, I. 189. Th’ wife ’s a raight cant body.
1868. E. Waugh, Sneck-Bant, iv. 76. As cant as a kitlin’.
