Learned borrowing from Latin cancer (“crab”), calque of Ancient Greek Καρκίνος (Karkínos, “crab”), calque of Akkadian 𒀀𒇻𒌅 (allutu, “crab”), from Sumerian 𒀯𒀠𒈜 (ᵐᵘˡAL.LUL, “crab; name of constellation”).
Meanings
Someone with a Cancer star sign.
‘All right, so what are Cancers apart from sad, then?’ Lizzie asked. 2022, Candice Carty-Williams, People Person, Trapeze, page 189:
ca càncer (Someone with a Cancer star sign) · is krabbi (Someone with a Cancer star sign) · sv kräfta (Someone with a Cancer star sign) · uk рак (Someone with a Cancer star sign) · nl Kreeft (Someone with a Cancer star sign) · gl cáncer (Someone with a Cancer star sign) · ca cranc (Someone with a Cancer star sign) · da krebs (Someone with a Cancer star sign) · bg рак (Someone with a Cancer star sign) · pt canceriano (Someone with a Cancer star sign) · ro rac (Someone with a Cancer star sign) · et Vähk (Someone with a Cancer star sign) · ru рак (Someone with a Cancer star sign) · mk рак (Someone with a Cancer star sign) · no kreps (Someone with a Cancer star sign) · ang Crabba (Someone with a Cancer star sign) · fr Cancer (Someone with a Cancer star sign) · el καρκίνος (Someone with a Cancer star sign)
Learned borrowing from Latin cancer (“crab”), calque of Ancient Greek Καρκίνος (Karkínos, “crab”), calque of Akkadian 𒀀𒇻𒌅 (allutu, “crab”), from Sumerian 𒀯𒀠𒈜 (ᵐᵘˡAL.LUL, “crab; name of constellation”).
Meanings
A constellation of the zodiac traditionally figured in the shape of a crab.
Cancer was occupied by a scarab in Egypt, so the general shape of animal may have been suggested by Praesepe. 1998, John H. Roger, “Origins of the ancient constellations: I. The Mesopotamian traditions”, in Journal of the British Astronomy Association, volume 108, number 1, page 27, column 2:
And add more coals to Cancer when he burns / With entertaining great Hyperion. c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]:
The zodiac sign for the crab, ruled by the Moon and covering June 22–July 22 (tropical astrology) or July 16–August 15 (sidereal astrology).