Coprophagous
/ˌkɒprəˈfæɡəs/noun
Feeding on feces.
Did you know?Its roots come from Greek copros (“dung”) + -phagous (“eating”), the same ancient eating-root that survives in words like “sarcophagus” and “phagocyte.”
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
kópros
“dung, feces”
Ancient Greek
Greek
-phagos
“eating, devouring”
Late Greek / Scientific Latin
Latin
coprophagus
“dung-eating”
19th Century
English
coprophagous
“feeding on dung or feces”
Modern English
English
coprophagous
“feeding on feces”
Explore more surprising origins