Lexic.us

Definition of Ergot

1. Noun. A plant disease caused by the ergot fungus.

2. Noun. A fungus that infects various cereal plants forming compact black masses of branching filaments that replace many grains of the plant; source of medicinally important alkaloids and of lysergic acid.

Definition of Ergot

1. n. A diseased condition of rye and other cereals, in which the grains become black, and often spur-shaped. It is caused by a parasitic fungus, Claviceps purpurea.

Definition of Ergot

1. Noun. Any fungus in the genus ''Claviceps'' which are parasitic on grasses. ¹

2. Noun. The sclerotium (wintering stage) of certain fungi in the genus ''Claviceps'', appearing as a deformed grain in certain cereals and grasses infected by the fungi. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Ergot

1. a fungus [n -S] : ERGOTIC [adj] - See also: fungus

Medical Definition of Ergot

1. A disease of cereal plants (rye, wheat, etc.) caused by the fungus Claviceps purpurea, this fungus produces toxic alkaloids that, if ingested, cause symptoms such as hallucinations, severe gastrointestinal upset, a burning sensation in the limbs and extremities (St. Anthony's Fire) and a form of gangrene. (09 Oct 1997)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Ergot

ergophobias ergoregion ergosine ergosphere ergospheres ergostane ergostanes ergostat ergosterin ergosterol

ergosterol acyltransferase ergosterols ergostetrine ergosurface ergosurfaces ergot (current term) ergot alkaloids ergot poisoning ergotamine ergotamine derivatives

ergotamines ergotaminine ergotherapy ergothioneine ergotic ergotin ergotine ergotise ergotised

Literary usage of Ergot

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences by Southern Society for Clinical Investigation (U.S.) (1889)
"He administered ergot systematically to ninety-one lying-in patients, generally in the form of ... Seventy- nine similar cases were treated without ergot. ..."

2. A Dictionary of Applied Chemistry by Thomas Edward Thorpe (1921)
"The use of ergot by midwives was forbidden in several countries about 1770-1780, but in , the second decade of the last century it was ' definitely ..."

3. Report of the Secretary of Agriculture by United States Dept. of Agriculture (1884)
"The second objection was that ergot did not produce dry ... The quotations from standard authorities as to the effects of ergot and the historical ..."

4. The Practitioner by Gale Group, ProQuest Information and Learning Company (1873)
"Again, haemorrhage taking place in the more advanced periods of pregnancy is almost always due to placenta previa, and here again ergot proves of but little ..."

5. Food Inspection and Analysis: For the Use of Public Analysts, Health by Albert Ernest Leach (1909)
"Grain is often damaged by the growth of smuts, rusts and ergot. ... ergot.—ergot is a fungus growth that occasionally develops within the grain of rye and ..."

6. A Textbook of Pharmacology and Therapeutics: Or, The Action of Drugs in by Arthur Robertson Cushny (1910)
"ergot. The chemistry of ergot has been the subject of a large number of investigations,1 but these have been attended with little success until the last few ..."

7. A Handbook of therapeutics by Sydney Ringer (1897)
"ergot LARGE doses, even an ounce of the liquid extract, are sometimes administered immediately ... ergot is sometimes also administered in considerable (! ..."

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