geophagy

[ jee-of-uh-jee ]

noun

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

geophagy

/ dʒɪˈɒfəɡəs; ˌdʒɪəˈfeɪdʒə; dʒɪˈɒfədʒɪ; dʒɪˈɒfədʒɪzəm; -dʒɪə /

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

• geˈophagist, noun
• geophagous, adjective

Other Words From

• ge·opha·gist noun
• ge·oph·a·gous [jee-, of, -, uh, -g, uh, s], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of geophagy¹

First recorded in 1840–50; geo- + -phagy

Example Sentences

The Whites settled in South America are likewise addicted to geophagy.

From Project Gutenberg