1570s, from Latin tuberculum "a small swelling," diminutive of tuber "lump" (see tuber).
tubercle tu·ber·cle (tōō'bər-kəl, tyōō'-)
n.
An anatomical nodule. Also called tuberculum.
A small elevation on the surface of a tooth.
A nodule or swelling, especially a mass of lymphocytes and epithelioid cells forming the characteristic granulomatous lesion of tuberculosis.