ergot
/ˈɜːgɒt/noun
1
- mass noun a fungal disease of rye and other cereals in which black elongated fruiting bodies grow in the ears of the cereal. Eating contaminated food can result in ergotism.（黑麦和其他谷物的一种由真菌引起的）麦角病。
1.1
- The fungus is Claviceps purpurea, subdivision Ascomycotina.该真菌名为麦角菌, 子囊菌亚门。
1.2
- count noun a fruiting body of this fungus麦角（麦角菌的菌核）。
1.3
- these fruiting bodies used as a source of certain medicinal alkaloids, especially for inducing uterine contractions or controlling post-partum bleeding（用作药物的）麦角（指从麦角中提取的某些药用生物碱, 主要用于促进子宫收缩和控制产后出血）。
2
- a small horny protuberance on the back of each of a horse's fetlocks（马的球节背面的）角质隆凸, 小结节。
词源
late 17th cent.: from French, from Old French argot 'cock's spur' (because of the appearance produced by the disease).