n. [ OF. cantel, chantel, corner, side, piece, F. chanteau a piece cut from a larger piece, dim. of OF. cant edge, corner. See 1st Cant. ] 1. A corner or edge of anything; a piece; a fragment; a part. “In one cantle of his law.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cuts me from the best of all my land
A huge half moon, a monstrous cantle out. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The upwardly projecting rear part of saddle, opposite to the pommel. [ Written also cante. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To cut in pieces; to cut out from. [ Obs. ] [ Written also cantile. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Dim. of cantle. ] A piece; a fragment; a corner. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ Dim. of scant, v. ] To be deficient; to fail. [ Obs. ] Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ OF. escanteler, eschanteler, to break into contles; pref. es- (L. ex) + cantel, chantel, corner, side, piece. Confused with E. scant. See Cantle. ] To scant; to be niggard of; to divide into small pieces; to cut short or down. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

All their pay
Must your discretion scantle; keep it back. J. Webster. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. eschantelet corner. ] A small pattern; a small quantity. [ Obs. ] Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]