ˈərgə]t, ˈə̄g-, ˈəig-, -ˌgä], usu ]d.+V\ noun
( -s )
Etymology: French, literally, cock's spur (which the sclerotium resembles), from Old French argos, argoz, plural, spurs of a horse's hoofs
1.
a. : the black or dark purple sclerotium of fungi of the genus Claviceps that occurs as a club-shaped body which replaces the seed of various grasses (as rye)
b. : any fungus of the genus Claviceps
2. : a disease of rye and other cereals caused by fungi of the genus Claviceps and characterized by the presence of ergots in the seed heads
3.
a. : the dried sclerotial bodies of an ergot fungus grown on rye and containing several alkaloids (as ergonovine, ergotamine)
b. : any of the ergotic alkaloids with pharmacologic effect on peripheral arterioles and especially on the uterus that are used in therapeutic doses mainly to induce contraction of the uterine muscle after delivery of the fetus and placenta and that may in overlarge doses or from natural sources (as infected rye) produce contraction of peripheral arterioles sometimes leading to gangrene — compare ergotism II
4. : a soft horny stub about the size of a chestnut occurring as a normal growth in the tufts of hair on the back of the fetlock in the horse