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and Etymonline.com gave this:
cancer
O.E., from L. "a crab," later, "malignant tumor." Greek physician Galen, among others, noted similarity of crabs to some tumors with swollen veins. From Gk. karkinos, which, like the Mod.E. word, has three meanings: crab, tumor, and the zodiac constellation (1391), from PIE base *qarq- "to be hard" (like the shell of a crab); cf. Skt. karkatah "crab," karkarah "hard;" and probably cognate with PIE base *qar-tu- "hard, strong," source of Eng. hard. Meaning "person born under the zodiac sign of Cancer" is from 1894. Cancer stick "cigarette" is from 1959.
formerly known as etaoin...
Entire Thread Subject Posted By Posted origin of the word "cancer" Alex Williams 08/29/05 11:52 AM Re: origin of the word "cancer" of troy 08/29/05 01:25 PM physician, heal thyself Alex Williams 08/29/05 01:43 PM Re: origin of the word "cancer" zmjezhd 08/29/05 02:08 PM Re: origin of the word "cancer" Alex Williams 08/29/05 02:14 PM Re: origin of the word "cancer" inselpeter 08/29/05 03:02 PM Re: origin of the word "cancer" Jackie 08/29/05 05:49 PM Re: origin of the word "cancer" Alex Williams 08/29/05 05:53 PM Re: origin of the word "cancer" zmjezhd 08/29/05 06:28 PM Re: origin of the word "cancer" inselpeter 08/29/05 08:04 PM Re: origin of the word "cancer" Buffalo Shrdlu 08/29/05 08:18 PM Re: origin of the word "cancer" zmjezhd 08/29/05 09:32 PM Re: origin of the word "cancer" inselpeter 08/30/05 02:51 AM
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