geophagy

geophagia

 [je″o-fa´jah]

the habit of eating clay or earth, a form of pica.

Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

geophagy

(jē-ŏf′ə-jē)

n.

The eating of earthy substances, such as clay or chalk, practiced among various peoples as a custom or for dietary or subsistence reasons.

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ge·oph′a·gism n.

ge·oph′a·gist n.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

The consumption of dirt—e.g., mud or clay—a former practice in many cultures, regionally extant in the southern US

Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

geophagy

Clay-eating The consumption of dirt–eg, mud or clay, a former practice in many cultures, regionally extant in the southern US

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

ge·o·pha·gi·a

, geophagism , geophagy (jē'ŏ-fā'jē-ă, jē-of'ă-jizm, -of'ă-jē)

The practice of eating dirt or clay.
Synonym(s): dirt-eating.

[geo- + G. phagō, to eat]

Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012

ge·o·pha·gi·a

, geophagism , geophagy (jē'ŏ-fā'jē-ă, jē-of'ă-jizm, -of'ă-jē)

Eating dirt or clay.

[geo- + G. phagō, to eat]

Medical Dictionary for the Dental Professions © Farlex 2012