spirillum

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: spi=ril=lum

CIDE DICTIONARY

spirillum, n. [NL., dim. of L. spira a coil.].

 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.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

spirillum, n. (pl. spirilla)
1 any bacterium of the genus Spirillum, characterized by a rigid spiral structure.
2 any bacterium with a similar shape.

Etymology

mod.L, irreg. dimin. of L spira SPIRE(2)