black knot

noun

, Plant Pathology.

1. a disease of plants, especially of plums and cherries, characterized by black knotlike overgrowths on the branches, twigs, etc., caused by a fungus, Dibotryon morbosa.

black knot

noun

1. a fungal disease of plums and cherries caused by Dibotryon morbosum , characterized by rough black knotlike swellings on the twigs and branches

Word History and Origins

Origin of black knot¹

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45

Example Sentences

I could see the stitched black knots underneath, holding his cut together.

From Literature

She daubed the ointment onto the wound, picked up his hand, and examined the spidery black knots as if they were a work of art—a painting, a sculpture.

From Literature

He would remember how rigorously her hair had been woven into a black knot against the nape of her neck.

From Literature

A dark, warty eruption on one branch is black knot fungus.

From New York Times

Now he was spurring the horses to a fine lather, for he could see the grooms in a black knot by the White Horse cellars.

From Project Gutenberg