zoothapsis

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ζωός (zōós, “alive”) and θάπτω (tháptō, “bury”).

Noun

zoothapsis (uncountable)

1. (archaic, nonce word) premature burial
   • 1880, College and Clinical Record, volume 1, page 60:

     In Great Britain, where the custom is to keep the body above ground so long, that evidences of putrid decomposition usually present themselves before interment, but little danger can exist; and consequently, the subject of zoothapsis has scarcely received due attention from the medico-legal writers of that country.