rhinotillexomania

English edit

Etymology edit

From rhino- (nose, nasal) +‎ Latin tillexis (habit of plucking, see below) +‎ -o- +‎ -mania (obsession).

The tillexis part is seemingly a New Latin borrowing from Ancient Greek τίλλω (tíllō, I pluck or pull). There is divergence about the "exo" affix. It is suggested it might come from ἔξω (éxō, out) or έξη (éxē, habit)

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˌɹaɪnəʊtɪˌlɛksəˈmeɪniə/, /ˌɹaɪnəʊtɪˌlɛksəˈmeɪnjə/
  • (file)

Noun edit

rhinotillexomania (uncountable)

  1. (psychiatry) Compulsive nose-picking, insertion of finger into one's nose.

Related terms edit

Translations edit

References edit