# What is the origin of the word . . .

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-word/73354>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 21, 2001, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-word/73354 "2001-07-21T20:25:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![kimmie876](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/858c86/32.png) [@kimmie876](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kimmie876)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2001, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-word/73354/1 "2001-07-21T20:25:43Z")

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What is the origin of the word “cankersore” what in the world is a canker and how does it apply to the things you get in your mouth every once in awhile? Just curious 🙂

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**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2001, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-word/73354/2 "2001-07-21T21:20:12Z")

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Looks like the origin comes from the word cancer, according to this [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) website:

> **[Definition of canker | Dictionary.com](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/canker)**
>
> Definition of canker from Dictionary.com, the world’s leading online source for English definitions, pronunciations, word origins, idioms, Word of the Day, and more.

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