hay bacillus

noun

: a rod-shaped spore-forming chiefly aerobic bacterium (Bacillus subtilis) widely distributed in soil and decaying organic matter

Word History

Etymology

so called from the fact that isolations were formerly made from boiled hay infusions

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Dictionary Entries Near hay bacillus

Cite this Entry

“Hay bacillus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hay%20bacillus. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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