See Also: Herbal medicine (botanical medicine, herbology, phytomedicine)(health)
smut(encyclopedia)
rye smut(medicine)
smut(dictionary)
smut(1)(dictionary)
Smut(medicine)
smut(2)(dictionary)
corn smut(medicine)
Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital- Medicine Lodge(health)
Orthomolecular medicine (orthomolecular nutritional medicine, orthomolecular therapy)(health)

Smut (medicine)


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