coccus

[bbeeton]

"Coccus" in the sense suggested here is a combining form, usually the final part of a longer name of an infectious particle having a generally round shape. Some examples are streptococcus, staphylococcus, and cryptococcus (which I learned for the first time today; I'm much too familiar with the other two). The first two are bacteria, but
cryptococcus is related to yeasts.

Be careful of the spellings, especially of the short forms. Somewhere in my medical records is a notation about a "staff" infection.

[Slava]

While looking this up I came across coccagee, which is a kind of apple that was popular in making cider in the 19th century. Literally, it means goose turd.

Oops. Typo edited.

[bbeeton]

"Cocccagee", with three "c"s in a row? Really? (But it sounds like a really good cider apple. Too bad it's been lost.)