Etymology

From Middle Dutch cockille ‎(“shell”) and English cockle, both from French coquille ‎(“shell”), from Latin conchula ‎(“little shell”), the diminutive of Latin concha ‎(“mussel; oyster”), from Ancient Greek κόγχη ‎(kónkhē, “konkhē”).

The word is attested in modern Dutch in West-Flanders with indications that it descended from Middle Dutch cockille, but its meaning was wider ("shell" rather than "cockle") and most usage of the word outside of that province seems to be more recent, and is probably a borrowing from English.

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: kok‧kel