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more about ergot
ergot |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Ergot \Er"got\, n. [F. ergot, argot, lit., a spur.] 1. 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}. 2. The mycelium or spawn of this fungus infecting grains of rye and wheat. It is a powerful remedial agent, and also a dangerous poison, and is used as a means of hastening childbirth, and to arrest bleeding. 3. (Far.) A stub, like soft horn, about the size of a chestnut, situated behind and below the pastern joint. 4. (Anat.) See 2d {Calcar}, 3 b . From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 2. (Zo["o]l.) A genus of lophobranch fishes of several species in which the head and neck have some resemblance to those of a horse; -- called also {sea horse}. Note: They swim slowly, in an erect position, and often cling to seaweeds by means of the incurved prehensile tail. The male has a ventral pouch, in which it carries the eggs till hatched. 3. (Zo["o]l.) A name applied to either of two ridges of white matter in each lateral ventricle of the brain. The larger is called hippocampus major or simply hippocampus. The smaller, hippocampus minor, is called also {ergot} and {calcar}. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: ergot n 1: a plant disease caused by the ergot fungus 2: 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 [syn: {Claviceps purpurea}]
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