View synonyms for cockle

cockle

[ kok-uhl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any bivalve mollusk of the genus Cardium, having somewhat heart-shaped, radially ribbed valves, especially C. edule, the common edible species of Europe.
any of various allied or similar mollusks.
cockleshell ( defs 1, 2 ).
a wrinkle; pucker:
a cockle in fabric.
a small, crisp candy of sugar and flour, bearing a motto.

verb (used without object)

, cock·led, cock·ling.

to contract into wrinkles; pucker:
This paper cockles easily.
to rise in short, irregular waves; ripple:
The waves cockled along the shore.

verb (used with object)

, cock·led, cock·ling.

to cause to wrinkle, pucker, or ripple:
The wind cockled the water.

cockle

[ kok-uhl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a weed, as the darnel Lolium temulentum, or rye grass, L. perenne.

cockle

/ ˈkɒkəl /

noun

any sand-burrowing bivalve mollusc of the family Cardiidae, esp Cardium edule ( edible cockle ) of Europe, typically having a rounded shell with radiating ribs
any of certain similar or related molluscs
See cockleshell
short for cockleshell
a wrinkle or puckering, as in cloth or paper
a small furnace or stove
cockles of one's heart
cockles of one's heart one's deepest feelings (esp in the phrase warm the cockles of one's heart )

verb

to contract or cause to contract into wrinkles

cockle

/ ˈkɒkəl /

noun

any of several plants, esp the corn cockle, that grow as weeds in cornfields

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Word History and Origins

Origin of cockle¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English cokel, cokil(le), from Old French coquille, “shell, shell of a mollusk, mollusk,” from Vulgar Latin cocchīlia (unattested), from Latin conchylia, plural of conchȳlium, from Greek konchȳ́lion, equivalent to konchȳ́l(ē) “mussel, cockle” + -ion diminutive suffix; compare Old English -cocc in sǣ-cocc literally, “sea-cockle” from Vulgar Latin coccus (unattested) for Latin concha conch

Origin of cockle²

First recorded before 1000; Middle English cok(k)el, Old English coccel; further origin uncertain; perhaps from Late Latin cocculus (unattested), diminutive of coccus “berry, seed” ( coccus ( def ) )

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Word History and Origins

Origin of cockle¹

C14: from Old French coquille shell, from Latin conchӯlium shellfish, from Greek konkhulion, diminutive of konkhule mussel; see conch

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

cockles of one's heart, the depths of one's emotions or feelings:
The happy family scene warmed the cockles of his heart.

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Example Sentences

We naturally wish to identify all the national dishes; so, "Is this cockle soup, Susanna?"

From Project Gutenberg

They loved to bind his forehead with the cockle shells that decked their own tresses.

From Project Gutenberg

But in Shakespeare's time Darnel, like Cockle (which see), was the general name for any hurtful weed.

From Project Gutenberg

It was the wildest and coldest season of the year, and the vessels in which the attempt was to be made were mere cockle-shells.

From Project Gutenberg

Twelve cockle-shells and a halfpenny china figure were ranged solemnly along the mantel-shelf.

From Project Gutenberg

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April 18, 2024petrichor

[pet-ri-kawr]

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

cockish cockleboat

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