Emily Dickinson Lexicon

COCK'LE, n.² [Fr. coque, coquille; L. cochlea; W. cocos, plur.; Gr. κοχλος, κοχλιας, from κοχλω, to turn or roll. Probably by giving the χ a nasal sound, Gr. κογχη, L. concha, are from the same root, whence κοφχυλιον, L. conchylium, It. conchiglia. See Conch.]

1. A small testaceous shell; or rather a genus of shells, the Cardium. The general characteristics are: shells nearly equilateral and equivalvular; hinge with two small teeth, one on each side near the beak, and two larger remote lateral teeth, one on each side; prominent ribs running from the hinge to the edge of the valve. – Cuvier. Linnæus.
2. A mineral; a name given by the Cornish miners to shirl, or shorl. – Nicholson.
3. A young cock. [Obs.] [See Cockerel.] – Spenser.