Cochleae cordis?
Posted by Bruce Kahl on September
07, 2001 In Reply to: Re: Cockles of my heart posted
by R. Berg on September 07, 2001
: : Anybody know where this phrase originated and what it means?
: : "warms the cockles of my heart"
: Meaning: Causes a pleasant feeling of a sentimental kind, is
comforting, is reassuring.
: Origin: Not clear. The shell of the cockle, a mussel, is somewhat
heart-shaped, but that may not have produced this phrase.
: Entry from Webster's Second Unabridged, 1934: "Cockles of the
heart: A phrase (in which 'cockles' is of uncertain meaning) denoting
the depths of the heart; as, to 'delight, rejoice, cheer, warm,'
etc., 'the cockles of one's heart.'"
Maybe cockles is a medical term.
The heart is composed of various parts that work in unison to pump
blood throughout the body.
One of the parts of the heart is called a ventricle. I dont remember
if the ventricle pumps in or sends blood out but it makes no difference
in this discussion.
Anyway, the Latin term for the heart's ventricles is "cochleae
cordis".
Could "cockle" be a corruption of "cochleae cordis"?
- Correction; derivation R. Berg
09/07/01 (
1)
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