Cockle vs. Mussel — What's the Difference?

An edible burrowing bivalve mollusc with a strong ribbed shell.

Mussel () is the common name used for members of several families of bivalve molluscs, from saltwater and freshwater habitats. These groups have in common a shell whose outline is elongated and asymmetrical compared with other edible clams, which are often more or less rounded or oval.

A small, shallow boat.

Any of various marine bivalve mollusks that attach to hard surfaces in intertidal areas with byssal threads, especially the edible members of the family Mytilidae and in particular Mytilus edulis, a blue-black species of the North Atlantic Ocean, raised commercially for food.

(of paper) form wrinkles or puckers

Any of numerous freshwater bivalve mollusks of the order Unionoida that burrow in the sand or mud of rivers, streams, and ponds.

Any of various chiefly marine bivalve mollusks of the family Cardiidae, having rounded or heart-shaped shells with radiating ribs.

Any of several similar bivalve mollusks, such as the zebra mussel.

The shell of a cockle.

Any of several groups of bivalve shellfish with elongated, asymmetrical shells.

A wrinkle; a pucker.

A freshwater mussel, usually edible, of the order Unionida in subclass Palaeoheterodonta.

(Nautical) A cockleshell.

A saltwater mussel, usually edible, of the order Mytilida in subclass Pteriomorphia.

Any of several weedy plants, especially the corn cockle.

Any of certain other bivalves of somewhat similar appearance, such as the zebra mussel and quagga mussel of the family Dreissenidae in subclass Heterodonta.

To become or cause to become wrinkled or puckered.

Any one of many species of marine bivalve shells of the genus Mytilus, and related genera, of the family Mytidæ. The common mussel (Mytilus edulis; see Illust. under Byssus), and the larger, or horse, mussel (Modiola modiolus), inhabiting the shores both of Europe and America, are edible. The former is extensively used as food in Europe.

Any of various edible European bivalve mollusks, of the family Cardiidae, having heart-shaped shells.

Any one of numerous species of Unio, and related fresh-water genera; - called also river mussel. See Naiad, and Unio.

The shell of such a mollusk.

Black marine bivalves usually steamed in wine

(in the plural) One’s innermost feelings (only in the expression “the cockles of one’s heart”).

Marine or freshwater bivalve mollusk that lives attached to rocks etc.

(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.

(UK) The fire chamber of a furnace.

(UK) A kiln for drying hops; an oast.

(UK) The dome of a heating furnace.

Any of several field weeds, such as the common corncockle (Agrostemma githago) and darnel ryegrass (Lolium temulentum).

(Cockney rhyming slang) A £10 note; a tenner.

To cause to contract into wrinkles or ridges, as some kinds of cloth after a wetting; to pucker.

A bivalve mollusk, with radiating ribs, of the genus Cardium, especially Cardium edule, used in Europe for food; - sometimes applied to similar shells of other genera.

A cockleshell.

The mineral black tourmaline or schorl; - so called by the Cornish miners.

The fire chamber of a furnace.

A hop-drying kiln; an oast.

The dome of a heating furnace.

A plant or weed that grows among grain; the corn rose (Luchnis Githage).

To cause to contract into wrinkles or ridges, as some kinds of cloth after a wetting.

Common edible European bivalve

Common edible European bivalve mollusk having a rounded shell with radiating ribs

Stir up (water) so as to form ripples

To gather something into small wrinkles or folds;