CANTING, a sea-phrase, denotes the act of turning any thing about.
CANTING Language or dialect, is a mysterious sort of jargon used by gypies, thieves, and strolling beggars, to express their sentiments to each other, without being understood by the rest of mankind. This dialect is not founded on any rules: yet, even out of that irregularity, many words seem to retain something of scholarship; as togeman a gown, from toza in the Latin; pannam, bread, from panis; cafan, cheese, from caesus, &c. It is observable, that, even unknown to ourselves, we have adopted some of their turns into our vulgar language; as bite and bilk, to cheat; bounce, to vapour; bonse, strong drink; filch, to steal; flog, to whip; rig, game or ridicule; roast, to rally; rhino, money. From the same source proceed the words sham, banter, bubble, bully, sharper, cutting, stuffing, palming, &c. An anonymous author has given a canting dictionary, comprehending all the terms used by the several tribes of gypies, beggars, shoplifters, highwaymen, foot-pads, and other clans of cheats and villains, with a collection of songs in the canting dialect; London, 1725, 8vo.