GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 2 definitions

1.       
   allotriophagy  , n. [Gr. ἀλλότριος strange + φαγεῖν to eat: cf. F. allotriophagie.] (Med.) A depraved appetite; a desire for strange or nonnutritious food, such as clay or starch.  Called also pica. AS
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2.       
   Pica , n. [L. pica a pie, magpie; in sense 3 prob. named from some resemblance to the colors of the magpie.  Cf. Pie magpie.]
   (Zool.) The genus that includes the magpies.
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   (Med.) A vitiated appetite that craves what is unfit for food, such as clay, chalk, ashes, coal, etc.; chthonophagia.
   Syn. -- allotriophagy.
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   (R. C. Ch.) A service-book. See Pie. [Obs.]
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   (Print.) A size of type next larger than small pica, and smaller than English.
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   ☞ This line is printed in pica
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   ☞ Pica is twice the size of nonpareil, and is used as a standard of measurement in casting leads, cutting rules, etc., and also as a standard by which to designate several larger kinds of type, as double pica, two-line pica, four-line pica, and the like.
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   Small pica (Print.), a size of type next larger than long primer, and smaller than pica.
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   ☞ This line is printed in small pica
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