Spirillum
/spaɪˈrɪləm/noun
A bacterium of the genus Spirillum, typically characterized by a rigid, spiral-shaped cell and tufts of flagella.
Did you know?The genus name Spirillum was coined in the nineteenth century from Latin spirillum, a diminutive of spīra, reflecting the organism’s conspicuously coiled shape.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sper-
“To turn, twist, or wind; a reconstructed root associated with later spiral-related forms.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
σπεῖρα (speîra)
“A coil, winding, spiral, or wreath.”
Classical Latin
Latin
spīra
“A coil, twist, spiral, or winding form.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
spirillum
“A little coil; diminutive form of spīra.”
1832
New Latin
Spirillum
“A taxonomic genus name applied to spiral-shaped bacteria.”
Modern English
English
spirillum
“A spiral bacterium, especially one belonging to the genus Spirillum.”