Wednesday Word: Cockle

[lou_harper]

cockle 1 |ˈkäkəl|

noun

1 an edible, burrowing bivalve mollusk with a strong ribbed shell. • Genus Cardium, family Cardiidae.

2 (also cockleshell) poetic/literary a small shallow boat.

PHRASES

warm the cockles of one's heart give one a comforting feeling of pleasure or contentment.

ORIGIN Middle English : from Old French coquille ‘shell,’ based on Greek

Comments

[charliecochrane]

I suspect 'warming the cockles of your heart' goes back to this: A Cockle..the place where the Fire is made to dry the Malt. (OED) Cockles were also stoves.

[lou_harper]

I had no idea cockles were stoves too. You learn something new every day.

However, doing a quick search revealed that the origin of the phrase might be the shell-shaped valves of the heart, the "cochleae cordis."

[charliecochrane]

Ooh, interesting. OED gave no indication. My gut feeling is the ovens, though...

[clarelondon]

*lol*
That header caught my eye at once! I loved your story and its poignant air. The season isn't only about happy and cozy :)

[lou_harper]

Ha! I'm afraid to ask what you thought it was at first.

[chrissymunder]

Oh my goodness, so very true!

It's almost Christmas again, and you start to wonder where the year went. Well there's no use to ponder; it's good and gone. Time is better spent curling up on the sofa with mug of mulled wine or hot cider and a good book.

[lou_harper]

It's flying too fast, dammit.

[whitestar]

Somehow the idea of cockles does not warm my heart :\ I'd rather have a nice warm body to snuggle with ^_^

[brenopa]

cockles and mussels? Huh? Never mind, look at the authors for this anthology--what! I love these posts, too. I curl up with a warm cup of cocoa and a hot IPad, waiting to read this collection of Holiday stories. Thank you!