hippophagy

Or hip·poph·a·gism

[hi-pof-uh-jee]

noun

1. the practice of eating horseflesh.

Other Word Forms

• hippophagous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hippophagy¹

First recorded in 1820–30; hippo- + -phagy

Example Sentences

Even though the problem hasn’t been detected in the U.S., the widening scandal has caused outrage and revulsion among Americans, who haven’t practiced hippophagy — the practice of eating horse flesh — on a regular basis for decades.

From Time

Horse-eating, or hippophagy, spread in Europe in the 19th Century, after famines caused several governments to license horse butcheries.

From BBC

Hippophagy, hip-pof′a-ji, n. the act or practice of feeding on horse-flesh.—n.pl.

From Project Gutenberg

There is heroism as well as vulgarity in laughter saluting death and patience, hippophagy and cannibalism, ugliness and deprivation.

From Project Gutenberg

Horse-eating, or hippophagy, became popular in Europe in the 19th century, when famines caused several governments to license horse butcheries.

From Slate