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Glite Dictionary
ergotism

ergotism

1 9.9
A condition from eating grain with a poisonous fungus that causes nausea, cramps, and gangrene
  • noun
  • /ˈɜrɡəˌtɪzəm/
  • Specialized
: ergotismo
  • In the Middle Ages, outbreaks of ergotism caused by ergot-infected rye resulted in many people experiencing devastating symptoms.

Examples

  • We could go into rye (a grain) causing ergotism...

    Blog text (30)

  • Aflatoxin, ergotism, and dicoumarin are much less prevalent than they once were.

    Blog text (14)

  • Eating bread made from contaminated grain can lead to ergotism, which may cause severe nausea and cramping.

  • Farmers must test their grain for ergot to prevent ergotism, which can lead to serious health issues like gangrene.

Surface Forms

ergotism singular
ergotisms plural

Morphology

ergotism = ergot (transparent) = ergot + ism

The word is a straightforward medical formation: 'ergot' (the fungus) + '-ism' indicating a condition caused by it.

Etymology

The word ergotism comes from ergot, an old French word meaning 'spur', and the ending -ism meaning a 'condition'. The fungus that grows on rye makes small dark shapes like tiny 'spurs', and eating that infected grain caused the sickness we now call ergotism.