coquina

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromκόγχη“mussel; shell”
2. Latin · derived fromconcha“bivalve, mollusk; mussel”
3. Spanish · borrowed fromcoquina“cockle”
4. English todaycoquina

Borrowed from Spanish coquina (“cockle”), from Latin concha (“bivalve, mollusk; mussel”), from Ancient Greek κόγχη (kónkhē, “mussel; shell”). Related to conch and conk.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from mid 19th c. Any of several small marine clams, of the species Donax variabilis, common in United States coastal waters.
• from mid 19th c. A soft form of limestone made of fragments of shells, sometimes used as a building or road paving material.