a bacterial cell intermediate in morphology between a coccus and a bacillus; a very short bacillus

A short, thick bacterial rod of the shape of an oval or slightly elongated coccus.

Coccobacillus is the singular of coccobacilli, which are bacteria of a slightly elongated shape. Coccobacillus is derived from the words cocci (spherical shaped) and bacilli (elongated) bacteria. An example would include Haemophilus influenzae.