1. Plural of ergotism; diseases or poisoning caused by eating grain or grain products contaminated with ergot fungus, characterized by gangrene, convulsions, or hallucinations.
Usage: medical/historical; usually used in plural form when referring to multiple cases or outbreaks

Examples

• Medieval ergotisms devastated entire villages when rye crops became infected with the fungus.
• Historians believe some ergotisms outbreaks may have been mistaken for witchcraft or demonic possession.
• The study examined documented ergotisms cases from the 16th and 17th centuries.
• Ergotisms caused severe vasoconstriction, leading to gangrene in the extremities of affected individuals.
• Modern food safety regulations have virtually eliminated ergotisms in developed countries.