a. [f. mod.L. coprophag-us, a. Gr. κοπροφάγ-ος dung-eating (f. κόπρο-ς dung + -φαγος eating): see -OUS.] Feeding upon dung; said esp. of the dung-beetles.
1826. Kirby & Sp., Entomol., xlix. (1828), IV. 493. Coprophagous insects.
1849. Sk. Nat. Hist., Mammalia, III. 119. Extremely few coprophagous beetles have hitherto … been found in Australia.
1866. Intell. Observer, No. 56. 134.
So Coprophagy, the eating of excrement.
1891. J. G. Bourke, Scatol. Rites, v. 29. His observations upon the existence of cophrophagy among insane persons.
