Etymology: Origin uncertain; perhaps < an unattested post-classical Latin *cocculus , diminutive of classical Latin coccum , in post-classical Latin also as coccus (see coccus n.); compare -le suffix 2.In classical Latin and post-classical Latin coccum is attested chiefly with reference to the scarlet grain formed by the dried bodies of insects on the kermes oak (and mistakenly believed to be produced by it), occasionally with reference to the berry of the spurge flax; however, more general use denoting berries and husks of plants is implied by developments in Romance languages (compare coque n.); compare also the sense ‘grain, seed’ of its Ancient Greek etymon. Perhaps compare also post-classical Latin cocilus (c800 in a British source, rare), probably a plant name, perhaps dock. Alternatively perhaps compare French names of plants usually derived from the same base as coq cock n.¹, although these are attested considerably later; compare Middle French, French cocquerelle (also cocqueret ) and coquelourde , plant names especially denoting the pasque flower (16th cent.; in 16th cent. also cocle in this sense), later in regional (north-western) French also in the sense ‘corncockle’. Compare also Middle French, French coquiole , coquioule kind of grass or weed, especially sheep's fescue (1544 or earlier; now chiefly regional). The resemblance to Slavonic words denoting the corncockle or other weeds (e.g. Polish kąkol , Czech koukol , Russian kukol′ , probably < the same Slavonic base as Old Russian kolokol′′ bell: see hale v.¹) is almost certainly coincidental. Formerly the word was suggested to be cognate with Irish cogal (15th cent. or earlier), but this is apparently < English (or perhaps < Latin). In early use and in sense 1b frequently translating post-classical Latin zizania (feminine singular or neuter plural) in the Vulgate (see zizany n.).

Etymology: < Anglo-Norman cokil, cokkill, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French cokille, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French coquille (French coquille) shell (c1170 in figurative use as the type of something of little value), specifically the shell of a marine mollusc, also the mollusc itself (13th cent.), snail-shell, something resembling a shell in shape, shell-like vessel (14th cent.) < classical Latin conchylia , plural of conchylium (in post-classical Latin also conquilium in a Glossary) mollusc, shellfish (see conchylia n.), with reinterpretation of neuter plural as feminine singular, and probably influenced in form through association with classical Latin coccum (see coccus n.). Compare post-classical Latin cokilla, cokillus shell, shell-like vessel (frequently from 13th cent. in British sources; < French), Middle Dutch (rare) cockille shell (14th cent.; < French), Italian †cocchiglia, variant (after French) of conchiglia shell of a marine mollusc (a1332).With the shift of stress in English compare gentle adj. (and contrast genteel adj.). With the form cochle perhaps compare cochle n. Earlier currency in sense 2a is perhaps shown by the following example in a Latin context; however, it is unclear whether this should be taken as showing the Middle English or the Anglo-Norman word:1375 in S. Bentley Excerpta Hist. (1833) 24 Lego unum cifum que vocatur cokile. In the expression the cockles of the heart (see Phrases 2) apparently from the resemblance of a (closed) cockleshell to the human heart; compare Cardiidae , the zoological name of the family of cockles (compare ancient Greek καρδία heart: see cardia n.).

Etymology: Probably < a specific use of Middle French coquille something resembling a shell in shape (14th cent.; French coquille ), transferred use of coquille shell (see cockle n.²); compare the French denominative formations listed at cockle v.²

Etymology: Apparently a transferred use of cockle n.², after Middle French, French coquille woman's hairstyle, in which the hair is curled into ringlets (a1590 in the passage translated in quot. 1608; compare French coquille curl (1765 or earlier)), specific use of coquille something resembling a shell in shape (see cockle n.³). Compare Old French, Middle French, French coquillé (of hair) curled (13th cent. in Anglo-Norman as kokelé ): see cockle v.² Compare later cocker n.⁴

Etymology: < Dutch kachel kind of enclosed fireplace for heating an interior space, typically made of stove tiles, but also of other materials, such as cast iron (16th cent.), shortened < kacheloven , in the same sense (15th cent., now rare) < German Kachelofen enclosed fireplace made of stove tiles (16th cent.) < Kachel stove tile (see note) + Ofen stove, oven (see oven n.). Compare (with reference to the same type of stove) German regional (e.g. Rhineland, Low German: East Friesland) Kachel (shortened < Kachelofen), although this may also show influence from Dutch.German Kachel ceramic vessel, pot, stove tile, (now usually) wall tile (Middle High German kachele , Old High German kahhala , both in sense ‘ceramic vessel, pot’) is apparently originally a borrowing < an unattested post-classical Latin form *cacculus , either an alteration (and contraction) of post-classical Latin caccabellus (6th cent.) < classical Latin caccabus ceramic vessel, cooking pot + -ellus -ellus suffix, or an alteration (after -ulus -ule suffix) of classical Latin caccabus, itself < ancient Greek κάκκαβος, in the same sense, further etymology unknown.

Etymology: Origin uncertain. Perhaps a transferred use of cockle n.¹, so called because it is often found intermixed with tin ore, from which it is not always easy to distinguish.

Etymology: Apparently a transferred use of cockle n.¹, probably after the resemblance of the galls to the black seeds of the corncockle, Agrostemma githago.

Etymology: Origin uncertain. Probably < cockle v.³ (although this is first attested later).Perhaps re-formed in the 17th cent.

Etymology: Probably partly (i) < cock v.³ or its probable imitative base + -le suffix 3; compare the foreign-language parallels (especially those with derivative suffixes in -l- ) cited at cock v.³, and also English regional cockle , cuckle , Scots cockle to cluck like a hen (19th cent. or earlier; variant of cackle v.¹); and partly (ii) < cocker v.¹, with alteration of the ending (see -le suffix 3). Compare earlier cocker v.¹ and also cotchel v.

Etymology: Apparently < cockle n.³Compare Old French, Middle French, French coquillé (of hair) curled (13th cent. in Anglo-Norman as kokelé), (of bread) having a crust that has swelled or blistered (1350), Middle French, French coquiller to give something the shape or appearance of a shell, to curl (16th cent.), and also Old French, Middle French, French recoquillé that is folded back on itself, curled (13th cent. in Anglo-Norman as recokilé), recoquiller to turn or fold back into the shape or appearance of a shell, to curl (14th cent.), (reflexive) to wrinkle, shrivel up (19th cent.).

Etymology: Origin uncertain. Perhaps (i) a variant of coggle v.² (although this is first attested later), or perhaps (ii) < cock v.¹ (compare sense 4 at that entry) + -le suffix 3, with an extension of meaning of the verb from ‘to stick up’ to ‘to stick up in an insecure or unstable way’, or perhaps (iii) an alteration (with suffix substitution: see -le suffix 3) of cocker v.² (unless this is itself an alteration of the present word), or perhaps (iv) < cockle n.² (especially in cockle boat n. (a) at cockle n.² Compounds 3), on account of the unsteady motion of such a boat (or of the single valve of a cockleshell) on the water. Compare earlier cocker v.²Earlier currency is probably implied by cockle adj.