Cockles meaning : Any of various edible European bivalve mollusks, of the family Cardiidae, having heart-shaped shells. The shell of such a mollusk. (in the plural) One’s innermost feelings (only in the expression “the cockles of one’s heart”). (directly from French coquille) A wrinkle, pucker (by extension) A defect in sheepskin; firm dark nodules caused by the bites of keds on live sheep The mineral black tourmaline or schorl. The fire chamber of a furnace. A kiln for drying hops; an oast. The dome of a heating furnace. To cause to contract into wrinkles or ridges, as some kinds of cloth after a wetting; to pucker. Any of several field weeds, such as the common corncockle (Agrostemma githago) and darnel ryegrass (Lolium temulentum). A £10 note; a tenner.