In a tilted or oblique direction; at an angle rather than straight or horizontal.
From 'cant' (a tilt or slant) plus '-wise' (meaning 'in the manner or direction of'). The suffix '-wise' appears in words like 'clockwise' and 'likewise,' making this mean 'in the direction of tilting.'
The '-wise' suffix is ancient—people have been using it for centuries to describe direction and manner, so 'cantwise' is just an old-fashioned way of saying 'at an angle'!
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