Bezoar

A clump or wad of swallowed food and/or hair. Bezoars can sometimes be found to cause blockage of the digestive system, especially at the exit of the stomach. When a bezoar is composed of hair, it is referred to as a hairball or trichobezoar. When a bezoar is composed of vegetable materials, it is referred to as a phytobezoar or foodball. When a bezoar is composed of hair and food it is referred to as a trichophytobezoar or hairy foodball. Interestingly, in the Far East culture, bezoars are felt to have medicinal properties!

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A concretion formed in the alimentary canal of animals, and occasionally humans; formerly considered to be a useful medicine with magical properties and apparently still used for this purpose in some countries; according to the substance forming the ball, may be termed trichobezoar (hairball), trichophytobezoar (hair and vegetable fiber mixed), or phytobezoar (foodball). [Pers. padzahr, antidote]

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be·zoar 'bē-.zō(ə)r, -.zȯ(ə)r n any of various calculi found in the gastrointestinal organs esp. of ruminants called also bezoar stone

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n.

a mass of swallowed foreign material within the stomach. The material, which is usually swallowed by psychiatrically disturbed patients, accumulates and ultimately causes gastric obstruction. Its removal often requires a surgical operation. See also trichobezoar.

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be·zoar (beґzor) [Farsi pādzohr antidote to poison] a concretion of foreign material found in the gastrointestinal tract or urinary tract; types include trichobezoar (hair), phytobezoar (fruit and vegetable fibers), trichophytobezoar (hair mixed with plant fibers), and fungus ball.