Russian origin.
First coined during the Spanish Inquisition
(zo-oth'-o-lo-my)
(n) The scientific name for a
leaf that has been separated from a branch by unnatural forces. It is important to differentiate between natural and unnatural forces. If a
hurricane blows leaves off branches, they remain leaves. If
humans or animals pull a leaf off a tree, it becomes a zootholomy.
plural: zootholomie (zo-oth'-o-lo-mie)
Little
Johnny hit the branch so
hard, one leaf became a zootholomy.
After the pine died, the leaves began accumulating at the base of the tree.