cancer, cri (gen. canceris, Lucr. 5, 616; Arn. 1, p. 30; acc. plur. canceres, Cato R. R. 157, 3), m. (neutr. Claudius, Quadrig. ap. Prisc. p. 697 P.; Scrib. Comp. 206 and 240) [cf. καρκίνος; root kar-, to be hard; whence κάρυον, cornu], a crab, a river-crab, sea-crab.
I Lit., Plin. 9, 31, 51, § 97 sq.; 19, 10, 58, § 180; Pall. 1, 35, 7; Ov. M. 15, 369; Plaut. Ps. 4, 1, 45; Verg. G. 4, 48; Col. 9, 5, 6: cancer femina, Plin. 32, 10, 46, § 134; Pall. 1, 35, 7.—*
B Meton., hands that cling fast like the claws of crabs : Orci cancri, Ap. Met. 6, 8, 21.—
II As nom. propr. , the Crab , the sign of the zodiac in which the sun is found at the time of the summer solstice , Lucr. 5, 616; Ov. M. 2, 83; 10, 127; id. F. 6, 727; Cic. N. D. 2, 43, 110; Luc. 10, 259; cf. Hyg. Astr. 2, 23; Macr. S. 1, 17 fin. ; acc. to the fable, as an animal hostile to Hercules in the contest with the Lernaean hydra; cf. Hyg. l. l. Hence, Lernaeus, Col. 10, 313.—
B Poet. for the region of the south , the south , Ov. M. 4, 625.—
C To designate great or violent heat , Ov. M. 10, 127.—
III In medicine, a crawling , eating , suppurating ulcer , malignant tumor , a cancer , Cels. 5, 26, 31; 6, 18, 3: malum immedicabile cancer, Ov. M. 2, 825; Cato R. R. 157, 3; Claud. Quadrig. ap. Prisc. p. 697 P