Middle English Dictionary Entry

canker n.(1)
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Entry Info

Forms canker n.(1) Also cancer, cancor & ca(u)ncre.
Etymology OE cancer, L cancer, & OF cancre (vr. of chancre).

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1a.
(a) A cancer, carcinoma; also, an ulcerated non-malignant tumor, a spreading ulcer; (b) ulceration of a wound, gangrene in a wound or ulcer; (c) a sore in the mouth, ?canker sores; ?also, an abscess in a tooth; (d) a polypus; (e) ?a pustular inflammation of the skin; (f) a gangrenous disease of the leg [= cancrene]; (g) a pathological growth on the sex organs of dogs.
Show 35 Quotations
1b.
~ aposteme, a cancerous swelling [ ? = unfestred ~]; ~ iwounded, ~ ulcerate, festred ~, an open and ulcerated cancer; also, an ulcerated or gangrenous wound; ~ universal, commune ~, a general cancer; fig. leprosy; curable ~, ?a non-malignant tumor; ded ~, a gangrenous disease of the leg [ = cancrene]; particuler ~, a localized cancer; unfestred ~, a cancer which is not open or ulcerated; verrai ~, a true cancer, carcinoma.
Show 10 Quotations
2.
Corroded or oxidized matter on the surface of metals; grene ~, ?verdigris.
Show 1 Quotation
3.
A cankerworm.
Show 5 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)11837 : Sembably as dyuers tres, Kankres han in ther degres, Ryht so vertues..Han dyuers extremytes, Kankres at outher ende, That ffrete on hem wherso they wende.
  • a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)11863 : The ffalsë werme off coveytyse..ys ycallyd Auaryse; The tother Kanker..Ys callyd Prodygalyte.
    • Note: New meaning for sense 3..
    Note: Modify gloss: "A cankerworm; also fig.."
    Note: In first Lydgate supplement quot., the second occurrence is fig..--notes per MLL

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. canker.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. common canker.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. dead canker.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. festered canker.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. ulcerate canker.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. unfestered canker.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. very canker.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. wounded canker.

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