pica
UK[ˈpaɪkə]US[ˈpaɪkə]
n
an abnormal craving to eat substances not normally eaten, such as clay, dirt, or chalk, occurring during pregnancy or in some nutritional deficiencies.
n
a unit of typographical measurement equal to 12 points or approximately 1/6 of an inch.
Etymology
the word 'pica' entered english directly from medieval latin, where it denoted the magpie, a bird known for its indiscriminate appetite. this avian name was applied metaphorically to the medical condition characterized by a craving for non-nutritive substances, drawing a direct analogy to the bird's reputed eating habits. the typographical sense, first recorded in the late 18th century, derives from the size of type used in printing a book of church rules known as the 'pica', though the precise connection remains debated. thus, the modern meanings of 'pica'—one medical, one technical—both stem from latin roots via figurative extension, rather than from a composition of smaller morphemes.
Analysis
the word is a direct borrowing from latin and functions as a simplex unit in english. it does not contain separable, meaningful morphemes within its modern english spelling.
Examples
the doctor diagnosed the patient's pica, which involved compulsively eating paper and soil.
for the body text, the designer selected a classic serif font set at 10 point on a 12 pica measure.
pica during pregnancy can sometimes indicate a mineral deficiency like iron or zinc.