rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: argot
Old French

argot

cock’s spur

1 / 1
Close botanical view of a rye ear infected with ergot: conspicuous elongated, curved purple-black fungal bodies replace several ordinary kernels and project outward like spurs.
noun

ergot

UR-gut/ˈɝɡʌt/

A fungus that forms toxic masses on cereal grasses.

Etymology
ergotOld Frenchcock’s spur

Old French argot meant a cock’s spur. The fungus was named for the spur-like shape it forms on diseased grain; the origin of the spur word itself is unknown.

Full entry

Related word entries