from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Canker \Can"ker\ (k[a^][ng]"k[~e]r), n. [OE. canker, cancre, AS.
cancer (akin to D. kanker, OHG chanchar.), fr. L. cancer a
cancer; or if a native word, cf. Gr. ? excrescence on tree, ?
gangrene. Cf. also OF. cancre, F. chancere, fr. L. cancer.
See {cancer}, and cf. {Chancre}.]
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1. A corroding or sloughing ulcer; esp. a spreading
gangrenous ulcer or collection of ulcers in or about the
mouth; -- called also {water canker}, {canker of the
mouth}, and {noma}.
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2. Anything which corrodes, corrupts, or destroy.
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The cankers of envy and faction. --Temple.
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3. (Hort.) A disease incident to trees, causing the bark to
rot and fall off.
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4. (Far.) An obstinate and often incurable disease of a
horse's foot, characterized by separation of the horny
portion and the development of fungoid growths; -- usually
resulting from neglected thrush.
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5. A kind of wild, worthless rose; the dog-rose.
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To put down Richard, that sweet lovely rose.
And plant this thorm, this canker, Bolingbroke.
--Shak.
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{Black canker}. See under {Black}.
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