Timber decay

• Droll nonsense — could it bring the house down?

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Wikipedia Word definitions in Wikipedia
Dry Rot is a 1956 British comedy film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Ronald Shiner , Brian Rix , Peggy Mount and Sid James . The story is an adaptation of a 1954 Whitehall farce by John Chapman who also wrote the screenplay, in which the sketchy ...

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