a comma-shaped bacterium, Vibrio comma, that causes cholera in humans: family Spirillaceae
comma bacillus in American English
the bacillus (Vibrio cholerae, formerly, V. comma) causing Asiatic cholera
comma bacillus in American English
noun
a curved, rod-shaped bacterium, Vibrio cholerae, causing Asiatic cholera
Word origin
[1885–90]This word is first recorded in the period 1885–90. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: foregut, retread, scrum, twofer, upsweep