Coccus
/ˈkɒkəs/noun
A spherical bacterium, or, in botany, a dry one-seeded fruit that does not open at maturity.
Did you know?The scientific name was borrowed through Neo-Latin from Greek kókkos, a word for a berry or kernel, showing how modern biology still leans on ancient language to name microscopic life.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
kókkos
“berry, seed, kernel; also a grain or small round object”
Classical Latin
Latin
coccum
“kermes berry, a red dye source”
Late Latin / Neo-Latin
Latin
coccus
“a berry-like body; later used in scientific naming”
18th Century
English
coccus
“a spherical bacterium; also a dry, indehiscent fruit in botany”
Modern English
English
coccus
“a spherical bacterium or a botanical dry fruit”