rhinotillexomania

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Compulsive nose-picking; the insertion of a finger into one's nose.

Pronunciation

/ˌɹaɪnəʊtɪˌlɛksəˈmeɪniə/ /ˌɹaɪnəʊtɪˌlɛksəˈmeɪnjə/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-rhinotillexomania.wav

Word forms

rhinotillexomania

Etymology

From rhino- (“nose, nasal”) + Latin tillexis (“habit of plucking”, see below) + -o- + -mania (“obsession”). The tillexis stem is seemingly a New Latin borrowing from Ancient Greek τίλλω (tíllō, “to pluck or pull”). There is a divergence regarding the exo affix. It is suggested it may derive from ἔξω (éxō, “out”) or έξη (éxē, “habit”).

Related words

Derived words

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