| 释义 |
geophagy|dʒiːˈɒfədʒɪ|
[ad. Gr. *γεωϕαγία the eating of earth (γεωτραγία is found in this sense), f. γεω- comb. form of γῆ earth + ϕαγεῖν to eat.]
The practice of eating earth; also ˈgeophagism. So ˈgeophagist, one that eats earth.
1850Lyell 2nd Visit U.S. II. 7 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. 1880Libr. Univ. Knowl. (N.Y.) VI. 593 (title) Geophagism, the custom of dirt-eating, indulged in by the lowest order of savages, most particularly in Terra del Fuego. 1885Syd. Soc. Lex., Geophagist. 1897Allbutt Syst. Med. II. 1040 Earth deliberately eaten by the geophagist. Ibid. 1043 Perverted appetite—pica or geophagy, as it is sometimes called—is a common occurrence in..intestinal helminthiasis. |