Cantons-de-l'Est

French

Alternative forms

• Cantons de l’Est, Cantons-de-l’est, Cantons de l’est

Etymology

From canton (“political territorial subdivision”) +‎ est. Calque of English Eastern Townships. From English eastern + township. From being Loyalist townships set up to the east of Montreal, in the British North America colony, the Province of Quebec, to handle refugees from Revolutionary persecution and expulsion resulting from the Continentals' revolt during the American War of Independence.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kɑ̃.tɔ̃.d(ə).l‿ɛst/

Proper noun

les Cantons-de-l’Est m pl (plural only)

1. (Canada) The Eastern Townships (“Estrie”)

   Synonym: (the modern subprovincial subdivision covering the Eastern Townships) Estrie

Synonyms

• les Cantons (“the Townships”) (informal short form)

Derived terms

• Cantonnier (“Townshipper”, noun)
• cantonnier (adjective)