coccobacillus

[kok-oh-buh-sil-uhs]

noun

Bacteriology.

plural

coccobacilli 

1. a spherelike bacillus.

Word History and Origins

Origin of coccobacillus¹

cocc(us) + -o- + bacillus

Example Sentences

The protagonist remembers once hearing friendly shouts of "Hi, Joe," but this time is greeted with calls of "coco," a slur referring to a biological weapon – coccobacillus – that Americans were rumored to have used in the war against North Korea.

From Fox News

The protagonist remembers once hearing friendly shouts of “Hi, Joe,” but this time is greeted with calls of “coco,” a slur referring to a biological weapon — coccobacillus — that Americans were rumored to have used in the war against North Korea.

From Seattle Times