cockles
Preserved but no longer current.
"to rejoice the COCKLES of one’s heart," a vulgar phrase implying great pleasure. Also, to "warm one’s COCKLES," said of any hot, well-spiced drink, taken in cold weather. COCKLES altogether seem to be an imaginary portion—of great importance—in the internal economy of the human frame.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “cockles” mean?
"to rejoice the COCKLES of one’s heart," a vulgar phrase implying great pleasure. Also, to "warm one’s COCKLES," said of any hot, well-spiced drink, taken in cold weather. COCKLES altogether seem to be an imaginary portion—of great importance—in the internal economy of the human frame.
Is “cockles” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.