geophagy

英 [dʒɪ'ɒfədʒɪ]
  • n. [内科] 食土癖;食土的习俗
geophagy
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geophagy (n.)
"dirt-eating," 1820, from Greek *geophagia (according to OED the actual Greek is geotragia), from geo-, comb. form of ge "earth" (see Gaia) + phagein "to eat." See also pica (n.2).
A diseased appetite ... prevails in several parts of Alabama, where they eat clay. I heard various speculations on the origin of this singular propensity, called 'geophagy' in some medical books. [Lyell, "Second Visit to U.S.," 1850]
1. Unfortunately, geophagy is also practiced to avoid hunger pains when other food is scarce.
遗憾的是, 一旦其他食物缺乏,人们也吃土以避免挨饿之苦.

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