spirillum Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun spirally twisted elongate rodlike bacteria usually living in stagnant water
  2. noun any flagellated aerobic bacteria having a spirally twisted rodlike form
    spirilla.

WordNet

Spi*ril"lum noun
Etymology
NL., dim. of L. spira a coil.
Definitions
  1. (Biol.) A genus of common motile microörganisms (Spirobacteria) having the form of spiral-shaped filaments. One species is said to be the cause of relapsing fever.

Webster 1913