n. [ L. pica a pie, magpie; in sense 3 prob. named from some resemblance to the colors of the magpie. Cf. Pie magpie. ] 1. (Zool.) The genus that includes the magpies. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. (Med.) A vitiated appetite that craves what is unfit for food, such as clay, chalk, ashes, coal, etc.; chthonophagia.
Syn. -- allotriophagy. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. (R. C. Ch.) A service-book. See Pie. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] 4. (Print.) A size of type next larger than small pica, and smaller than English. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ This line is printed in pica [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ Pica is twice the size of nonpareil, and is used as a standard of measurement in casting leads, cutting rules, etc., and also as a standard by which to designate several larger kinds of type, as double pica, two-line pica, four-line pica, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]
Small pica (Print.), a size of type next larger than long primer, and smaller than pica. [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ This line is printed in small pica [ 1913 Webster ] | 
