Ergot
41ergot — [ ə:gɒt] noun 1》 a fungal disease of rye and other cereals, forming black elongated fruiting bodies which are a source of various medicinal alkaloids. 2》 a small horny protuberance on the back of a horse s fetlock. Origin C17: from Fr., from OFr …
42ergot — (F): Spur; (L): a fungus …
43ergot — n. Spurred rye …
44ergot — er·got …
45ergot — n. a fungus (Claviceps purpurea) that grows on rye. It produces several important alkaloids, chemically related to LSD, including ergotamine and ergometrine, which are used in medicine in the treatment of migraine and in childbirth. Eating bread… …
46ergot — er•got [[t]ˈɜr gət, gɒt[/t]] n. 1) ppa a) a disease of rye and other cereal grasses, caused by a fungus of the genus Claviceps, esp. C. purpurea, which replaces the affected grain with a long, hard, blackish sclerotial body b) ppa the sclerotial… …
47ergot — /ˈɜgət/ (say erguht), / gɒt/ (say got) noun 1. any fungus of the genus Claviceps which causes a disease of rye and other grasses, resulting in the replacement of the seed with a long, hard, horn like, dark coloured sclerotium. 2. the disease… …
48Ergot — This fungus, of the genus Claviceps, grows in the seeds of grasses, such as Rye. When infected seeds, or items made from them, are eaten, alkaloids in the fungus causes contractions of the smooth muscles (convulsions) and hallucinations. It …
The writer's dictionary of science fiction, fantasy, horror and mythology
49ergot — A drug sometimes used in abortions, the tendency of which is to contract the uterus and throw out the foetus. State v Alcorn, 7 Idaho 599, 64 P 1014 …
50ergot — n. 1 a disease of rye and other cereals caused by the fungus Claviceps purpurea. 2 a this fungus. b the dried spore containing structures of this, used as a medicine to aid childbirth. Etymology: F f. OF argot cock s spur, from the appearance… …