warm the cockles of someone's heart
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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Contents
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
First documented use in 1671. Corruption of Latin cochleae (“ventricles”) in cochleae cordis (“ventricles of the heart”).[1][2] Earlier attempt to explain the etymology no longer noted in reference works: Possibly due to resemblance of cockles to hearts.[2]
Verb[edit]
to warm the cockles of someone's heart
- (idiomatic) To provide happiness, to bring a deeply-felt contentment
- 1671 John Eachard:[3]
- This contrivance of his did inwardly rejoice the cockles of his heart.
- 1671 John Eachard:[3]
Synonyms[edit]
- (to provide happiness): warm someone's heart
Related terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
to provide happiness to someone
References[edit]
- ^ American Heritage Idioms Dictionary
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 “Cockles of your heart” in Michael Quinion, World Wide Words[1], 3 August 2002.
- ^ James A. H. Murray [et al.], editor (1884–1928) A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), London: Clarendon Press, OCLC 15566697; and The Oxford English Dictionary; being a Corrected Re-issue with an Introduction, Supplement, and Bibliography of A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (the First Supplement), Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1933, OCLC 2748467.
