geophagy

[ jee-of-uh-jee ]

noun
  1. the practice of eating earthy matter, especially clay or chalk, as in famine-stricken areas.

Origin of geophagy

1
First recorded in 1840–50; geo- + -phagy
  • Also ge·o·pha·gia [jee-uh-fey-juh, -jee-uh], /ˌdʒi əˈfeɪ dʒə, -dʒi ə/, ge·oph·a·gism [jee-of-uh-jiz-uhm]. /dʒiˈɒf əˌdʒɪz əm/.

Other words from geophagy

  • ge·oph·a·gist, noun
  • ge·oph·a·gous [jee-of-uh-guhs], /dʒiˈɒf ə gəs/, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for geophagy

geophagy

geophagia (ˌdʒɪəˈfeɪdʒə, -dʒɪə) or geophagism (dʒɪˈɒfədʒɪzəm)

/ (dʒɪˈɒfədʒɪ) /


noun
  1. the practice of eating earth, clay, chalk, etc, found in some primitive tribes

  2. zoology the habit of some animals, esp earthworms, of eating soil

Derived forms of geophagy

  • geophagist, noun
  • geophagous (dʒɪˈɒfəɡəs), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012