bacillus

[buh-sil-uhs]

noun

plural

bacilli 

1. any rod-shaped or cylindrical bacterium of the genus Bacillus, comprising spore-producing bacteria.

2. (formerly) any bacterium.

bacillus

/ bəˈsɪləs /

noun

1. any rod-shaped bacterium, such as a clostridium bacterium Compare coccus spirillum

2. any of various rodlike spore-producing bacteria constituting the family Bacillaceae , esp of the genus Bacillus

bacillus

plural

bacilli 

1. Any of various pathogenic bacteria, especially one that is rod-shaped.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bacillus¹

1880–85; < Late Latin, variant of Latin bacillum (diminutive of baculum ) staff, walking stick

Word History and Origins

Origin of bacillus¹

C19: from Latin: a small staff, from baculum walking stick

Related Words

• ailment 
• disease 
• germ 
• illness 
• infection 
• microbe 
• microorganism 
• pathogen 
• sickness