| smut | 1. Foul matter, like soot or coal dust; also, a spot or soil made by such matter. 2. <chemical> Bad, soft coal, containing much earthy matter, found in the immediate locality of faults. 3. <botany> An affection of cereal grains producing a swelling which is at length resolved into a powdery sooty mass. It is caused by parasitic fungi of the genus Ustilago. Ustilago segetum, or U. Carbo, is the commonest kind; that of Indian corn is Ustilago maydis. 4. Obscene language; ribaldry; obscenity. "He does not stand upon decency . . . But will talk smut, though a priest and his mother be in the room." (Addison) Smut mill, a machine for cleansing grain from smut. Origin: Akin to Sw. Smuts, Dan. Smuds, MHG. Smuz, G. Schmutz, D. Smet a spot or stain, smoddig, smodsig, smodderig, dirty, smodderen to smut; and probably to E. Smite. See Smite, and cf. Smitt, Smutch. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| rye smut | <botany> A disease of cereal plants (rye, wheat, etc.) caused by the fungus Claviceps purpurea, this fungus produces toxic alkaloids that, if ingested, cause symptoms such as hallucinations, severe gastrointestinal upset, a burning sensation in the limbs and extremities (St. Anthony's Fire) and a form of gangrene. (09 Oct 1997) |
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| corn smut | A species that resembles ergot of rye in its metabolic action; its black spores on the ears of corn are dispersed by wind and can cause contamination of laboratory cultures. Synonym: corn ergot, corn smut, Ustilago zeae. (05 Mar 2000) |