Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Rot \Rot\, n.
   1. Process of rotting; decay; putrefaction.

   2. (Bot.) A disease or decay in fruits, leaves, or wood,
      supposed to be caused by minute fungi. See {Bitter rot},
      {Black rot}, etc., below.

   3. [Cf. G. rotz glanders.] A fatal distemper which attacks
      sheep and sometimes other animals. It is due to the
      presence of a parasitic worm in the liver or gall bladder.
      See 1st {Fluke}, 2.

            His cattle must of rot and murrain die. --Milton.

   {Bitter rot} (Bot.), a disease of apples, caused by the
      fungus {Gl[ae]osporium fructigenum}. --F. L. Scribner.

   {Black rot} (Bot.), a disease of grapevines, attacking the
      leaves and fruit, caused by the fungus {L[ae]stadia
      Bidwellii}. --F. L. Scribner.

   {Dry rot} (Bot.) See under {Dry}.

   {Grinder's rot} (Med.) See under {Grinder}.

   {Potato rot}. (Bot.) See under {Potato}.

   {White rot} (Bot.), a disease of grapes, first appearing in
      whitish pustules on the fruit, caused by the fungus
      {Coniothyrium diplodiella}. --F. L. Scribner.