Blight

blīt, n. a disease in plants, which blasts or withers them: anything that injures or destroys.— v.t. to affect with blight: to blast: to frustrate.— p.adj. Blight′ing , withering, blasting. [Dr Murray notes that it first appears in literature in the 17th century; prob. orig. of Scand. origin; cf. Ice. blettr , a stain; perh. related to Bleach , Bleak .]