Carphologia

Carphologia (or carphology) is a lint

Lint

Lint may mean:* Fibrous coat of thick hairs covering the seeds of the cotton plant* Fuzzy fluff that accumulates on various fabrics, which can be removed via a lint roller* Fibers that become trapped in the lint filter of a clothes dryer...

-picking behavior that is often a symptom of a delirious state

Delirium

Delirium is an acute and debilitating decline in attention-focus, perception, and cognition that produces an altered form of semi-consciousness. It is a systemic syndrome caused by a chemical or disease-process which is disrupting the neurons of the cerebral cortex...

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Often seen in delirious or semiconscious patients, carphologia describes the actions of picking or grasping at imaginary objects, as well as the patient's own clothes or bed linens

Bedding

Bedding refers to the materials laid above the mattress of a bed for warmth and decorative effect. Bedding does not include the mattress, box spring and bed frame. Down materials are often used for warmth in bedding.-Bedding sizes:...

. This can be a grave symptom in cases of extreme exhaustion or approaching death.

Etymology

The word Carphology is derived from the ancient Greek , as a compound of the two Greek elements: , "straw", and , here in its sense of "to collect" rather than the more usual sense of "to say, profess". Thus, carphology literally means "to behave as though one were collecting straw". This refers to the involuntary picking or grasping movements sometimes seen in delirious patients in exhaustion, stupor, or high fever.

The Latin equivalent is floccillation which derives from , "a piece of wool or straw".