Droll nonsense — could it bring the house down?

• Timber decay

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Word definitions in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
noun EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS ▪ Frequently wet rot or dry rot is identified. ▪ He knew that the corner section of the porch floor sagged wit1i dry rot . ▪ If it isn't the dry rot in the roof, it's insects chewing the timbers. ▪ It kills wet rot, dry rot and ...

The Collaborative International Dictionary Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Rot \Rot\, n. Process of rotting; decay; putrefaction. (Bot.) A disease or decay in fruits, leaves, or wood, supposed to be caused by minute fungi. See Bitter rot , Black rot , etc., below. [Cf. G. rotz glanders.] A fatal distemper which attacks sheep and ...

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. a crumbling and drying of timber or bulbs or potatoes or fruit caused by a fungus a fungus causing dry rot

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. 1 The crumbly, friable decayed portions of wooden members of buildings, especially at or below grade, usually caused by a fungal infection. 2 Metaphorically, a progressive malaise of decay, corruption, or datedness. 3 A fungal infection which affects ...

Wikipedia Word definitions in Wikipedia
Dry rot is wood decay caused by certain species of fungi that digest parts of the wood which give the wood strength and stiffness. It was previously used to describe any decay of cured wood in ships and buildings by a fungus which resulted in a darkly colored ...