Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A severe, sometimes fatal food poisoning caused by ingestion of food containing botulin and characterized by nausea, vomiting, disturbed vision, muscular weakness, and fatigue.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Poisoning with ptomaïnes of decomposing meat, especially potted meat or sausage, referable to a toxin produced by the Bacillus botulinus. Also botulismus.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun pathology Poisoning caused by the toxin from Clostridium botulinum, a type of anaerobic bacteria that grows in improperly-prepared food.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun food poisoning from ingesting botulin; not infectious; affects the CNS; can be fatal if not treated promptly

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[German Botulismus, from Latin botulus, sausage.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin botulus ("sausage")+ -ism

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Examples

  • People are too hung up on when bacteria may technically grow on something - since when did a little bacteria do all that much harm? it's like the whole anti-bacterial craze, feed yourself normal bacteria and build up your immunities. although I would stay away from older canned/jarred things - botulism is scary. juggler314

    Use A Leftovers Log To Safeguard Your Stomach | Lifehacker Australia 2009

  • When it hit the market, Botox was hailed in the media as the newest, strangest thing under the sun, and to the extent that it's not every day that a close cousin of botulism is touted as the latest route to youth and beauty, such fanfare was understandable.

    The Pursuit of Happiness 2003

  • When it hit the market, Botox was hailed in the media as the newest, strangest thing under the sun, and to the extent that it's not every day that a close cousin of botulism is touted as the latest route to youth and beauty, such fanfare was understandable.

    The Pursuit of Happiness 2003

  • But the number of dead birds has not been considered high enough to label botulism as the main culprit in the disappearance.

    The Case of the Missing Pelicans 2004

  • At the time, the 28-year-old Dobrydnia had never even heard of the word botulism, yet in the coming days, she and the rest of central Illinois would learn more than they cared to know about the rare but debilitating toxin.

    pjstar.com Home RSS 2008

  • Wife pointed out his competitors had another place in our Central City (this is when we learned of his "botulism" - based mispronunciation of their name).

    grouse Diary Entry grouse 2002

  • Among its myriad uses, BPA can be found in can liners that increase the shelf life of food and prevent botulism, which is a genuine health threat.

    Jon Entine: Scared To Death: Toxic Debate Over Chemicals Threatens Risk-Based Regulations Jon Entine 2011

  • Among its myriad uses, BPA can be found in can liners that increase the shelf life of food and prevent botulism, which is a genuine health threat.

    Jon Entine: Scared To Death: Toxic Debate Over Chemicals Threatens Risk-Based Regulations Jon Entine 2011

  • GUPTA: Well, the one thing important about that, John, is that children under the age of 1 probably don't have enough immunity to actually fight off something known as botulism, and honey can actually be something that spreads botulism.

    CNN Transcript Dec 4, 2007 2007

  • East Rand being poisoned by a dangerous and often very fatal type of food poisoning called botulism last week.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 2002

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