copro-
Dung or faeces.
[Greek copros, dung.]
A coprolite is fossilized dung; coprophagous (Greek phagein, eat) means feeding on dung, as some beetles do; coprosma is a genus of New Zealand evergreen shrubs (from Greek osme, smell, because their leaves emit a putrid odour when bruised); coprophilia is an abnormal interest in faeces and defecation; coprolalia (Greek lalia, speech or chatter) is the involuntary and repetitive use of obscene language.
Visit Michael Quinion’s World Wide Words site for 2000+ articles on English!
Copyright © Michael Quinion 2008–. All rights reserved. Page last updated 23 September 2008.
Your comments and suggestions on the site are very welcome.