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any rod-shaped or cylindrical bacterium of the genus Bacillus, comprising spore-producing bacteria.
(formerly) any bacterium.
Contemporary Examples

That in the bacilli we have … the actual infective cause of tuberculosis.
When TB Was a Death Sentence: An Excerpt From ‘The Remedy’ Thomas Goetz April 15, 2014

Historical Examples

It was found that the bacilli steadily declined in virulence as the length of time they were kept in the emulsion was prolonged.
Bacteria in Daily Life Mrs. Percy Frankland

Even a temperature of 70° C. is able to lessen the efficacy of the bacilli.
Prof. Koch’s Method to Cure Tuberculosis Popularly Treated Max Birnbaum

In all such cases the morbid liquids of the swellings teem with bacilli.
A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Various

If the bacilli are aggregated into clumps, positive reaction.
The Elements of Bacteriological Technique John William Henry Eyre

Strange as it may seem, the deadliest enemies of the soldier are not bullets but bacilli, and sewage is mightier than the sword.
Preventable Diseases Woods Hutchinson

The bacilli may lodge on toys or other articles from which the child gets them.
The Eugenic Marriage, Volume IV. (of IV.) Grant Hague

The blood during life communicated the same disease to other mice, and bacilli were always present in large numbers.
A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Various

They are animals; bacteria, bacilli, micrococci, and all their tribe are vegetables.
Preventable Diseases Woods Hutchinson

The action of the bacilli upon the blood differs materially from that of the round bacteria.
A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Various

noun (pl) -cilli (-ˈsɪlaɪ)
any rod-shaped bacterium, such as a clostridium bacterium Compare coccus (sense 2), spirillum (sense 1)
any of various rodlike spore-producing bacteria constituting the family Bacillaceae, esp of the genus Bacillus
n.

plural of bacillus (q.v.).
n.

1877, medical Latin, from Late Latin bacillus “wand,” literally “little staff,” diminutive of baculum “a stick,” from PIE root *bak- “staff,” also source of Greek bakterion (see bacteria). Introduced as a term in bacteriology 1853 by German botanist Ferdinand Cohn (1828-1898).

bacillus ba·cil·lus (bə-sĭl’əs)
n. pl. ba·cil·li (-sĭl’ī’)

Any of various rod-shaped, usually gram-positive aerobic bacteria of the genus Bacillus that often occur in chains and include Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax.

Any of various bacteria, especially a rod-shaped bacterium.

Bacillus (bə-sĭl’əs)
n.
A genus of rod-shaped gram-positive bacteria capable of producing endospores.
bacillus
(bə-sĭl’əs)
Plural bacilli (bə-sĭl’ī’)
Any of various pathogenic bacteria, especially one that is rod-shaped.
bacilli [(buh-sil-eye)]

sing. bacillus

One of three forms of bacteria, usually rod-shaped.