bacilli \bacilli\ n. plural of {bacillus}; usually designating aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacteria; they often occur in chainlike formations. Syn: bacillus [WordNet 1.5]
Bacillus \Ba*cil"lus\, n.; pl. {Bacilli}. [NL., for L. bacillum. See {Bacillari[ae]}.] (Biol.) A variety of bacterium; a microscopic, rod-shaped vegetable organism. [1913 Webster]