ergotism

Meaning

1. The plant disease caused by ergot.
2. The effect of long-term ergot poisoning, traditionally due to the ingestion of the alkaloids produced by the fungus Claviceps purpurea which infects rye and other cereals, and more recently by the action of a number of ergoline-based drugs, consisting of convulsive and gangrenous symptoms.
3. The use of ergot-infested grain to poison animals.

Synonyms

poisoning

ergot poisoning

Saint Anthony’s Fire

Translations

ergotisme

ergotismo

ergotismo

Ergotismus

ergotismo

ergotisme

feu de Saint-Antoine

tipo di intossicazione

ignis sacer

ergotisme

kriebelziekte

de

Brandseuche

atacado

Etymology

Cognate with Latin: ergo

In summary

From ergot + -ism.