“Stammzelle” (German for stem cells).
Stem cells -cells with great prospects for therapies has its term originated late back in 19th century.Intially the term was used to mean an unicelluar ancestor for all multicelluar organism and as the egg that gives rise to all cells.
Take a look at how early scientists come to define stem cell as a distinct cell in the embryo inspired and stimulated by Weissman's germ plasm theory at Cell -Stem cells magazine July issue.