[f. CANT v.3 + -ING1.]
1. The practice of using thieves’ cant; the secret language or jargon used by thieves, professional beggars, etc.; see CANT sb.3 4 a.
1567. Harman, Caveat (1869), 23. Their languag—which they term peddelars Frenche or Canting—began but within these xxx. yeeres.
1577. Harrison, England, II. x. (1877), I. 218. They [beggers] haue devised a language among themselues, which they name ‘canting’; but other ‘pedlers French,’ a speach compact thirtie yeares.
1641. Brome, Joviall Crew, II. Wks. 1873, III. 392. I understand their canting.
1670. Cotton, Espernon, II. VII. 327. Le Plessis in the Canting of that Cypher was call’d Floze.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Canting, the Cypher or Mysterious Language, of Rogues, Gypsies, Beggers, Thieves, &c.
1725. in New Cant. Dict.
2. The use of the special phraseology of a particular class or subject (always contemptuous); jargon, gibberish; see CANT sb.3 4 b.
1625. B. Jonson, Staple of N., IV. iv. Pyc. She bears, Argent, three Leeks vert, In Canton Or, and tassel’d of the first. Pen. Can. Is not this Canting?
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., 21. Hypostatical, transubstantiate, consubstantiate, eternal-New, and the like canting of Schoolemen.
1693. Phil. Trans., XVII. 799. Nothing but Canting, and a Jargon of Scraps.
attrib. 1812. D’Israeli, Calam. Auth. (1867), 146. The canting dictionary of criticism.
3. Unreal or affected use of language; spec. the formal use of religious or pietistic phrases; hypocritical talk; see CANT sb.3, 5 b, 6. In 17th c. applied in ridicule to the preaching of Presbyterians and Puritans; hence Canting coat, the Geneva gown, or coat of the Puritan minister.
1659. Character Engl., in Harl. Misc., X. 191. [The Presbyterians] … make an insipid, tedious, and immethodical prayer, in phrases and a tone so affected and mysterious that they give it the name of canting: a term by which they do usually express the gibberish of beggars and vagabonds.
1687. Dryden, Hind & P., III. 232. Quit the Cassock for the Canting-coat.
1698. Norris, Pract. Disc., 190. Canting I call using Words without any real Sense or Notion under them.
1722. Sewel, Hist. Quakers (1795), II. VII. 23. Judge. Leave your canting.
1771. Smollett, Humph. Cl. (1815), 180. Here has been nothing but canting and praying since the fellow entered the place.
1809. Syd. Smith, Wks. (1867), I. 141. They hate canting and hypocrisy.
