Etymology Map
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Cancer

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means a disease of abnormal cell growth

Where does the word "cancer" come from? It comes from Greek karkinos, passing through Latin before entering English (1600s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
karkinos
Greek · ancient
"crab"
Greek; Hippocrates compared tumours' swollen veins to a crab's legs
2
Stage 2 of 3
cancer
Latin · ancient
"crab; tumour"
Latin for crab; also the zodiac sign
3
Stage 3 of 3
cancer
English · 1600s
"tumour"
the older English form was 'canker'
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Read the full story

Cancer’s story begins in Greek: karkinos meant “crab.” Greek; Hippocrates compared tumours' swollen veins to a crab's legs. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as cancer. Latin for crab; also the zodiac sign. It reached English by 1600s as cancer. The older English form was 'canker'. Today, cancer means a disease of abnormal cell growth.