Advertisement

spirochete (n.)

1877, from Modern Latin Spirochæta, the genus name, from spiro- Modern Latin combining form of Greek speira "a coil" (see spiral (adj.)) + Greek khaite "hair" (see chaeto-).

Others are reading

Advertisement
Definitions of spirochete from WordNet

spirochete (n.)
parasitic or free-living bacteria; many pathogenic to humans and other animals;
Synonyms: spirochaete
From wordnet.princeton.edu