Where does “bacilli” come from?
Bacilli comes from Latin bacillus, the diminutive of baculum meaning "staff" or "stick," ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European bak-.
bacilli (English): plural of bacillus
Definitions
- plural of bacillus
Ancestry of “bacilli”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | bacillus | Any of various rod-shaped, spore-forming aerobic... |
| 2 | Latin | bacillus | Alternative form of bacillum; rod-shaped... |
| 3 | Latin | bacillum | A small staff or wand; The shaft or handle of a... |
| 4 | Latin | baculum | walking stick, cane, staff; sceptre, rod; a... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | baḱ- | club, pointed stick, peg; pointed stick, peg |