water canker

2 definitions found

water canker - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Water canker \Wa"ter can"ker\ (Med.)
     See Canker, n., 1.
     [1913 Webster]

  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.]
     [1913 Webster]
     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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