fitful plucking movements as in delirium
• (n.) See Floccillation.
Synonym: floccillation. ... Origin: G. Karphologein ... (05 Mar 2000) ... 
(kahr-fol´ә-je) involuntary picking at the bedclothes, seen in states of great exhaustion and grave fevers.
Car·phol'o·gy (kär*fŏl'o*jȳ) noun [ Greek 
carphology, carphologia, carphologies (pl); also, carphologias 1. In medicine, involuntary picking at bedclothes, seen especially in febrile or exhaustive delirium of the low muttering type. 2. The actions of delirious or semiconscious patients, as if they are searching for or grasping at imaginary objects, or picking at the bed-clothes or their o...