Middle English Dictionary Entry
cancrēne n.
Entry Info
| Forms | cancrēne n. Also cankerne. Pl. cancrenes, cancrena, cancrene. |
| Etymology | ML cancrena |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A gangrenous ulcer of the leg; also, the gangrenous disease of the leg causing such ulcers; (b) ?an ulcer resembling a small cancer; (c) an ulcer of the gums, ?a canker sore.
Associated quotations
a
- [ a1400 Alphita (SeldArch B.35)33 : Cancrena dicuntur uulnera nondum mortua, pauxillum uite. ]
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)177/36 : Þe bloodletyng of þis veyne is good for..cancrena [L cancrenas] þat ben in þe hipis & for a mormal.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)293/15,17 : Cancrene ben rounde vlceris þat falleþ in a mannes leggis..Cancrene..ben foule & comeþ of dedinge of þe skyn, for þe natural spiritis comen not þerto.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)97a/a : Rogerine calleþ hem lupos in þe thie, In þe leggez forsoþ cancrenesse [*Ch.(2) & L: cancrenas]. Lamfranc calleþ ham estiomenez.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)30a/a : Estiomenus is cleped cancrena at þe grekes, wherof in Libro de tumoribus praeter naturam; among þe grettest flegmons, cancrene is cleped mortificacioun i. deþe of þe lyme of þe pacient.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)6b/a : Of cankernez [*Ch.(2): smale cancres].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)174a/b : It cureþ þe cancre & cancrenez [*Ch.(2): smale cancres; L cancrenas], herisiple and combustionz.
c
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)180b/b : Chaufingz & cancrenez [*Ch.(2): smale cancres; L cancrene] of þe gommez ar corrected with water of caprifolij.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. cancrene.