coprophagous

[ kuh-prof-uh-guhs ]

adjective

1. feeding on dung, as certain beetles.

coprophagous

/ kɒˈprɒfəɡəs /

adjective

1. (esp of certain beetles) feeding on dung

Derived Forms

• copˈrophagy, noun

Other Words From

• cop·ro·pha·gi·a [kop-r, uh, -, fey, -jee-, uh, -j, uh], noun
• cop·roph·a·gist [k, uh, -, prof, -, uh, -jist], noun
• cop·ropha·gy noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of coprophagous¹

First recorded in 1820–30; copro- + -phagous

Example Sentences

The moths’ caterpillars are coprophagous or, to put it more bluntly, consumers of excrement.

From New York Times

He's drollest in his early scenes as the consummate loser with a coprophagous grin--a character perilously close to Rob Schneider's needy-nerdy copy-machine guy on Saturday Night Live years ago.

From Time Magazine Archive

Associated words: coprophagy, coprophagous, Augean, dungmeer, excrementitious, sterconst, sterconcolous, stercoraceous, bubulin. dupe, n. gull, cully, gudgeon, dotterel, victim. duplicate, a. double, twofold, duplex.--n. facsimile, counterpart.

From Project Gutenberg