Canker

(82), n. [A-S. cancer, can-cere, cancre, D. kànker, It. canchero, cancro, from Lat. cancer, which was originally pronounced like the Eng. canker. See CANCER and CHANCER.]

1Sense 1. An eating, corroding, virulent humor, or ulceration; especially an ulcer or a collection of ulcers in the mouth.

2Sense 2. Any thing which corrodes, corrupts, or destroys. “Sacrilege may prove an eating canker.” “The cankers of envy and faction.” Temple.

3Sense 3. (Hort.) A disease incident to trees, causing the bark to rot and fall off.

4Sense 4. (Far.) An obstinate and often incurable disease of the horse’s foot, generally originating in a diseased thrush. White.

5Sense 5. A kind of wild, worthless rose; dog-rose.

To put down Richard, that sweet lovely rose. And plant this thorn, this canker, Bolingbroke. Shak.

6Sense 6. A caterpillar.

In the sweetest bud The eating canker dwells. Shak.

[imp. & p. p. CANKERED; p. pr. & vb. n. CANKERING.] 1. To eat; corrode; corrupt; consume. A tithe purloined cankers the whole estate. Herbert. 2. To infect or pollute. Addison.