strob·i·lus \ˈsträbələs\noun (pluralstrobi·li \-bəˌlī\) Etymology: New Latin, from Late Latin, pinecone, from Greek strobilos whirling or twisted object, ball, top, pinecone, from strobos action of whirling — more at strophe 1. a.: a conelike aggregation of sporophylls (as in the club mosses and horsetails) b.: the cone of a gymnosperm 2.: strobila