arsenicophagy

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰelh₃- Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰl̥h₃enyomder. Proto-Indo-Iranian *ȷ́ʰr̥Hanyam Proto-Iranian *jr̥Hanyam Old Median *zaranyam Old Median *kā Old Median *zaraniyakāder. Middle Persian *zarnīkbor. Classical Syriac ܙܪܢܝܟܐ (zarnīḵā)der. Arabic الزَرْنِيخ (az-zarnīḵ)bor. Byzantine Greek ἀρσενικόν (arsenikón)der. Latin arsenicumder. Middle French arsenicbor. Middle English arsenik English arsenic Ancient Greek -ο- (-o-)der. Latin -o-bor. English -o- Ancient Greek ἔφαγον (éphagon) Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-i-eh₂ Proto-Hellenic *-íā Ancient Greek -ίᾱ (-íā) Ancient Greek -φᾰγίᾱ (-phăgíā)lbor. English -phagy English arsenicophagy From arsenic + -o- + -phagy.

1. The eating of arsenic, formerly practiced for supposed health benefits.

   “M. Ritter adds that in his experiments with men, he never met with the coloring and embonpoint which are said to result from arsenicophagy.”

   “She took up arsenicophagy, and in just a few months, 'had become stout, rosy-cheeked, and altogether quite to her lover's satisfaction'.”