cockle

¹ American  

[kok-uhl] / ˈkɒk əl /

noun

1. any bivalve mollusk of the genus Cardium, having somewhat heart-shaped, radially ribbed valves, especially C. edule, the common edible species of Europe.

2. any of various allied or similar mollusks.

3. cockleshell.

4. a wrinkle; pucker.

   a cockle in fabric.

5. a small, crisp candy of sugar and flour, bearing a motto.

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verb (used without object)

cockles, present (3rd person singular) cockled, past participle, past cockling present participle

1. to contract into wrinkles; pucker.

   This paper cockles easily.

2. to rise in short, irregular waves; ripple.

   The waves cockled along the shore.

verb (used with object)

cockles, present (3rd person singular) cockled, past participle, past cockling present participle

1. to cause to wrinkle, pucker, or ripple.

   The wind cockled the water.

idioms

1. cockles of one's heart, the depths of one's emotions or feelings.

   The happy family scene warmed the cockles of his heart.

cockle ² American  

[kok-uhl] / ˈkɒk əl /

noun

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

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cockle ¹ British  

/ ˈkɒkəl /

noun

1. any sand-burrowing bivalve mollusc of the family Cardiidae, esp Cardium edule ( edible cockle ) of Europe, typically having a rounded shell with radiating ribs

2. any of certain similar or related molluscs

3. short for cockleshell

4. a wrinkle or puckering, as in cloth or paper

5. a small furnace or stove

6. one's deepest feelings (esp in the phrase warm the cockles of one's heart )

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verb

1. to contract or cause to contract into wrinkles

cockle ² British  

/ ˈkɒkəl /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has cockled
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have cockled
  perfect
• are cockling
  progressive
• have been cockling
  perfect progressive
• has been cockling
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• is cockling
  progressive 3rd person singular
• am cockling
  progressive 1st person singular
• cockling
  participle
• cockles
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had cockled
  perfect
• were cockling
  progressive plural
• was cockling
  progressive singular
• had been cockling
  perfect progressive
• cockled
  simple
• cockled
  participle

Future

• will cockle
  simple
• will have cockled
  perfect
• will have been cockling
  perfect progressive
• will be cockling
  progressive

Etymology

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” ( see coccus ( def. ))

Example Sentences

Voiceover actor Doug Cockle, best known for playing Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher series, says he supports the strikes but isn't a member of SAG-Aftra because he's based in the UK.

From BBC • Oct. 30, 2024

State data corroborates tribal members’ observations: Cockle populations go through periods of boom and bust, said Elizabeth Unsell, a Suquamish shellfish biologist.

From Seattle Times • May 22, 2023

“We continue to legitimize the idea that what’s important is European knowledge,” says Kristina Cockle, a Canadian ornithologist at the Institute of Subtropical Biology in Argentina, where she has lived for nearly 20 years.

From Science Magazine • Feb. 8, 2023

Fireside Books, a bookstore in Palmer, was overwhelmed with feedback, requests and online orders for the now-prohibited books this week, owner Mary Ann Cockle said.

From Washington Times • Apr. 25, 2020

He was the second son of James Cockle, a surgeon, of Great Oakley, Essex.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 6 "Cockaigne" to "Columbus, Christopher" by Various