Trichotillomania
/ˌtrɪkoʊˌtɪloʊˈmeɪniə/noun
A compulsive urge to pull out one’s own hair.
Did you know?Trichotillomania was coined in the late 19th century from Greek roots for hair, pulling, and madness, proving that even modern medicine still names disorders with ancient, almost ritual-sounding language.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰreh₂-
“to sprout, grow hair”
Ancient Greek
Greek
θρίξ (thrix)
“hair”
Ancient Greek
Greek
τίλλειν (tillein)
“to pluck, pull out”
Ancient Greek
Greek
μανία (mania)
“madness, frenzy”
Late 19th Century
English
trichotillomania
“a compulsive hair-pulling disorder”
Explore more surprising origins