Middle English Dictionary Entry
Canker n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | Canker n.(2) Also cancer, cancre, canser. |
| Etymology | ML |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The zodiacal sign Cancer; cercle of ~, one of the circles on an astrolabe; hed of ~, the point where the space given to this sign begins on an astrolabe, etc.; (b) in cancro, in the sign Cancer; (c) a crab [?L].
Associated quotations
a
- (c1392) ?Westwyk EPlanets (Peterh 75)24/12 : Tak thanne..a boydekyn &, in direct of the hed of cancer, thow shalt in the cercle þat is closere of the signes..make a litel hole.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1051 : Cancer after the reule and space Of Signes halt the ferthe place.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.2224 : He was..But litel fro his declynacioun Of Cancer [vr. Canser], Iouis exaltacioun.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)108a/b : Galaxias..bygynneþ fro þe est and passiþ to þe norþ by þe signes þat hatte cancer & capricornus.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.m.6.4 : Whan that Phebus the sonne is in the sygne of the Cancre [vr. cankyr].
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)27/31 : Whan the sonne entreth in to the signe of Cancer.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)161a/b : And be it [þe mone] in moiste signes, As bene Cancer, Scorpio, & piscis.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)1.17 : The leest is clepid the cercle of Cancre, by cause that the heved of Cancre turnith evermo consentrik upon the same cercle.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2344 : The sun rose, As it come into canser, and be course Entred.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)5.18 f.99b : This sonne entred in to the signe of Cancer, þat is called the see crabbe.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.3242 : And in Cancro thin oghne hous..Stond al this time.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)108b/b : Þe mone arisiþ in cancro [L in cancro].
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.625 : Saturne and Jove in Cancro joyned were.
c
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)87a/b : It is rounde and putteþ oute veynez in þe circuite þat ar as feete of þe Cancer i. crabbe.