corpuscle

 
Pronunciation: /ˈkɔːpʌs(ə)l/

noun

Biology
  • a minute body or cell in an organism, especially a red or white cell in the blood of vertebrates.
  • historical a minute particle regarded as the basic constituent of matter or light: these subparticles at the centre of an antimony corpuscle are fluid and volatile

Derivatives

corpuscular

Pronunciation: /kɔːˈpʌskjʊlə/
adjective

Origin:

mid 17th century: from Latin corpusculum 'small body', diminutive of corpus