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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Pica \Pi"ca\, n. [L. pica a pie, magpie; in sense 3 prob. named
from some resemblance to the colors of the magpie. Cf. {Pie}
magpie.]
1. (Zool.) The genus that includes the magpies.
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2. (Med.) A vitiated appetite that craves what is unfit for
food, such as clay, chalk, ashes, coal, etc.;
chthonophagia.

Syn: allotriophagy.
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3. (R. C. Ch.) A service-book. See {Pie}. [Obs.]
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4. (Print.) A size of type next larger than small pica, and
smaller than English.
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Note: Pica is twice the size of nonpareil, and is used as a
standard of measurement in casting leads, cutting
rules, etc., and also as a standard by which to
designate several larger kinds of type, as double pica,
two-line pica, four-line pica, and the like.
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{Small pica} (Print.), a size of type next larger than long
primer, and smaller than pica.
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allotriophagy \al`lo*tri*oph"a*gy\
([a^]l`l[-o]*tr[i^]*[o^]f"[.a]*j[y^]), n. [Gr. 'allo`trios
strange fagei^n to eat: cf. F. allotriophagie.] (Med.)
A depraved appetite; a desire for strange or nonnutritious
food, such as clay or starch. Called also {pica}. --AS
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