a printer's unit of measurement, equal to 12 points or 0.166 ins
2.
(formerly) a size of printer's type equal to 12 point
3.
a typewriter type size having 10 characters to the inch
Word origin
C15: from Anglo-Latin pīca list of ecclesiastical regulations, apparently from Latin pīca magpie, with reference to its habit of making collections of miscellaneous items;the connection between the original sense (ecclesiastical list) and the typographymeanings is obscure
pica in British English2
(ˈpaɪkə)
noun
pathology
an abnormal craving to ingest substances such as clay, dirt, or hair, sometimes occurring during pregnancy, in persons with chlorosis, etc
Word origin
C16: from medical Latin, from Latin: magpie, being an allusion to its omnivorous feedinghabits
pica in American English1
(ˈpaɪkə)
noun
1.
a size of type, 12 point
2.
the height of this type, about 1⁄6 inch
used as a typographical unit of measure
3.
a size of type for typewriters, measuring 10 characters to the linear inch
Word origin
< ? ML(Ec), a directory, church manual (see pie4): ? in reference to type used in printing it
pica in American English2
(ˈpaɪkə)
noun
an abnormal craving to eat substances not fit for food, as clay or paint