combining form of L. spīra, Gr. σπεῖρα, SPIRE sb.3, used in a number of recent scientific terms, few of which have much currency, as Spirobacteria, bacteria with spirally twisted cells; Spirochæte, a genus of bacteria having a highly twisted spiral form.
1876. trans. Wagner’s Gen. Pathol., 93. Spirobacteria are distinguished from vibrio, by the closer and narrower, regular, permanent spiral of the filament.
1877. Huxley & Martin, Elem. Biol., 29. Spirochæte. Much like spirillum, but longer and with a much more closely rolled spiral.
1899. J. Cagney, trans. Jaksch’s Clin. Diagn., vi. 206. Mobile swarms are seen in the centre of the mass, while at its circumference appear the spirochæte-like bodies.
