STAPHYLOCOCCUS

noun (plural staphylococci) Etymology: New Latin, from Greek staphylē bunch of grapes + New Latin -coccus Date: 1887 any of a genus ( Staphylococcus ) of nonmotile gram-positive spherical bacteria that occur singly, in pairs or tetrads, or in irregular clusters and include causative agents of various diseases (as skin infections, food poisoning, and endocarditis)