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pica

/ˈpaɪkə/ noun

Latin root: pīca Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about pica at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. An eating disorder, frequent in children, in which non-nutritional objects are eaten persistently.
  2. A linear unit (1/6 inch) used in printing.
  3. Magpies.

Origin

Borrowed from Latin pīca (“jay; magpie”). Doublet of pie (“magpie”). * (pathology): From the idea that magpies will eat almost anything.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)