onychophagia

onychophagia (on-i-koh-FEY-juh, on-i-koh-FEY-jee-uh) - n., the biting of one's nails.


Particularly as a habit or as a sign of emotional disturbance. Coined in the late 1890s from Greek roots ónyx, nail, claw + -phagia.

---L.