Cant
The word "cant" can mean more than one thing:
- Cant is insincere speech, similar to hypocrisy. The difference between the two is sometimes explained thus: the hypocrite is entirely cynical and doesn't even believe the snake-oil he or she is expounding; while the speaker of cant does have conceptual faith in what he or she says—but won't actually be practicing what he or she is preaching.
- Canting is an old word for punning in heraldry. For example, a person named Connington might have a rabbit (a coney) and a barrel (a tun) on his coat of arms. See Rebus.
- Cant is a term generally used to describe secret languages (cryptolects) used by gypsies, thieves, and others who have a need to communicate freely without necessarily conveying their meaning to a wider audience.
- It is used sometimes specifically to refer to Shelta, the cryptolectic Goidelic Celtic language of Irish Travellers. See Cant (language).
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