Rhinotillexis on the Decline

You may be pleased to hear that rhinotillexis is on the downturn, at least in public places.

This lovely term means “picking one’s nose with one’s fingers.” In an article by Jim Shahin in the February 15, 2008 issue of American Way, I learned that a Harvard study reveals that rhinotillexis is down 70% from the year before. The decline is attributed to the fact that cameras are everywhere and people are becoming more cautious about the activity for fear of showing up on YouTube and grossing out their friends.

The element rhino occurs in several English words.

The animal (rhinoceros) gets its name from the combination rhino “nose” and keras “horn.” People hardly ever use the entire word anymore when speaking of the animal. Certainly calling it a rhino makes forming its plural much easier.

A scholarly plural of rhinoceros is rhinocerotes. I’ve never heard anyone say that. A more familiar plural is rhinoceroses, but that’s hard to say and it sounds comical.

A television ad selling a cold product shows a rhinoceros and tells viewers that the source of the common cold is the rhinovirus.

Rhino occurs in other medical terms.

People dissatisfied with the noses they were born with can opt for rhinoplasty, cosmetic surgery that alters the shape of the nose.

Rhinoscopy is a technique for examining the nose and throat.

If you are writing in a humorous vein and wish to describe someone who has a big nose, you could use the adjective rhinocerical.

Something I didn’t know before researching rhino is that it has been used as a slang word for “money” since 1688. Could be that this use of the word has something to do with the origin of the expression “paying through the nose.”

Maeve on February 28, 2008 Subscribe to our RSS Feed

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9 Responses to “Rhinotillexis on the Decline”

surfmadpig on February 28th, 2008 11:43 am

On a side note, it’s reassuring to know that the bright minds of Harvard are put to such good use.
Sharon on February 28th, 2008 12:39 pm

Nice post - now if only I could get my five year old to give up on rhinotillexis
Jay Wagers on February 28th, 2008 5:30 pm

Now if we could get people to stop doing it while in their cars. I see it all the time sitting at stoplights. They must believe they become invisible as soon as they crawl into their vehicles. I like “rhinoceroses.” You could tell people you suffered from it and they would never know the difference.
Terry Finley on February 29th, 2008 1:59 am

People with Rhinotillexis also
suffer from Ocular Dysfunction,
also associated with Vehicular
Attachment.
Jake on March 3rd, 2008 3:23 am

Hello! I just found your blog while surfing the net. I used to pick my nose and eat the contents, but now that I am 34 I can’t do it anymore–at least not in good company.
Maeve on March 4th, 2008 2:45 pm

Jake,
The “rhino” term for compulsive eating of boogers is rhinotillexomania, It’s considered a form of Pica. It’s probably a good thing that you’ve stopped.
Terry Finley on March 4th, 2008 3:00 pm

Can one catch ‘rhinotillexomania’ like
one catches a cold?

Is it a virus?
Maeve on March 4th, 2008 3:27 pm

Terry,
Wikipedia tells all:
article on the condition known as pica

article on rhinotillexomania
Terry Finley on March 5th, 2008 1:32 am

;-))

I think I’ll bring my comments
on this hot topic to a close.

thanks….;-))