pica
1 of 2noun (1)
pi·ca ˈpī-kə 
: an abnormal desire to eat substances (such as chalk or ashes) not normally eaten
pica
2 of 2noun (2)
1
: 12-point type
2
: a unit of about ¹/₆ inch used in measuring typographic material
3
: a typewriter type providing 10 characters to the linear inch and six lines to the vertical inch
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
New Latin, from Latin, magpie — more at pie
Noun (2)
probably from Medieval Latin, collection of church rules
First Known Use
Noun (1)
1563, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Medical Definition
pica
noun
pi·ca ˈpī-kə
: an abnormal craving for and eating of substances (as chalk, ashes, or bones) not normally eaten that occurs in nutritional deficiency states (as aphosphorosis) in humans or animals or in some forms of mental illness compare geophagy