Bacteriology. Pl. -cocci. [mod.L. (Billroth), f. Gr. στρεπτό-ς twisted (see STREPTO-; taken by Billroth to mean ‘chain’) + κόκκος berry.] A form of bacterial organism in which the cocci are arranged in chains or chaplets.
1877. trans. Billroth’s Lect. Surg. Pathol., etc. I. 137. These streptococci are sometimes moving ones. Ibid., 138. In a state of absolute rest the streptococcus may form long threads running parallel with the surface.
1891. G. S. Woodhead, Bacteria, 31. Chain-cocci or strepto-cocci.
attrib. 1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., III. 636. Streptococcus infection.
1900. Brit. Med. Jrnl., 20 Jan., 142. Nostreptococcus colonies were found.
Hence Streptococcal, -coccic, -coccous, adjs. pertaining to or produced by streptococcus.
1897. Brit. Med. Jrnl., 13 March, 655. It was important for surgeons to distinguish between streptococcal peritonitis … and peritonitis due to the colon bacillus.
1897. Trans. Amer. Pediatric Soc., IX. 90. The streptococcic cases are very dangerous.
1902. Encycl. Brit., XXXI. 558/1. The statement … is in direct contradiction to all our knowledge of the behaviour of the blood in streptococcous infections.
