geophagia en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /d͡ʒiəˈfeɪdʒə/
- /d͡ʒiəˈfeɪdʒiə/
Etymology
From geo- + -phagia.
Meanings
-
(uncountable) Consumption of clay, chalk or dirt.
In fact, expectant mothers in many sub-Saharan African cultures routinely eat soils (a practice called geophagia).
2006 May 27, NewScientist, page 54, column 1:
Relateds
geophagy · chthonophagia · chthonophagy