# pica

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈpaɪkə/ · frequency rank #53,166

## Definitions
1. A disorder characterized by appetite and craving for non-edible substances, such as chalk, clay, dirt, ice, or sand.
2. A magpie.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin pīca (“jay; magpie”). Doublet of pie (“magpie”).
* (pathology): From the idea that magpies will eat almost anything.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/pica