cockle1
/ˈkɒk(ə)l
/noun
1An edible burrowing bivalve mollusc with a strong ribbed shell.
- Genus Cardium, family Cardiidae.
- Shellfish such as oysters, mussels, cockles, winkles, whelks and crabs were collected for food from the estuaries and sea shores.
- While Brits eat turkey at Christmas, Spaniards look forward to festive feasts of clams, crabs, cockles, mussels, octopus and goose barnacles.
2 (also cockleshell) literary A small, shallow boat.The crew of both remaining cockleshells placed limpet mines on the merchant ships they found in the harbour.
Phrases
warm the cockles of one's heart
Origin
Middle English: from Old French coquille 'shell', based on Greek konkhulion, from konkhē 'conch'.
Rhymes
cockle2
/ˈkɒk(ə)l/verb [no object]
(Of paper) form wrinkles or puckers: thin or lightweight paper cockles and warps when subjected to watercolour
Origin
Mid 16th century: from French coquiller 'blister (bread in cooking)', from coquille 'shell' (see cockle1).