foot rot
- noun
- /fʊt rɑt/
- Specialized
- The farmer treated several cows suffering from foot rot in the wet pastures.
Examples
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Cows suffering from foot rot may become lame.
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The farmer discovered foot rot in his cattle.
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If foot rot is left untreated, it can lead to severe lameness in sheep.
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Regularly cleaning the barn can help prevent foot rot in livestock.
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Many farmers struggle with foot rot in their sheep, as it can lead to lameness and severe tissue damage.
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If cattle are not properly cared for, they may develop foot rot, which can cause significant health issues.
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To prevent foot rot, it is essential to keep animals' hooves clean and dry during wet weather.
How Severe
- Specialized
- UK
- Specialized
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly built from 'foot' (here understood as the base or lowest part of a plant/stem) + 'rot' (decay); together they straightforwardly denote decay at the plant's base. This compositional mapping is predictable and, given the plant context, a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Foot rot comes from a simple picture: an animal's foot or hoof begins to rot in wet, muddy fields, so the animal limps and cannot walk well. That's why the term means 'a contagious infection of the feet'.