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onychophagia

American  
[on-i-koh-fey-juh, -jee-uh] / ˌɒn ɪ koʊˈfeɪ dʒə, -dʒi ə /

noun

Psychiatry.
  1. the practice of biting one's nails, especially when done habitually and as a symptom of emotional disturbance.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of onychophagia

1895–1900; < Greek onycho- (combining form of ónyx nail, claw; see onyx) + -phagia

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