A term coined by Colin Dickey author of Cranioklepty Grave Robbing and the Search for Genius, it literally means "skull stealing". "Cranio" as in skull and "klepty" as in kleptomania.
Incidences of cranioklepty, were first noted in the 19th century and were driven, in part, by an interest in phrenology.
by missquotable October 5, 2009
Get the craniokleptymug.