Coque
/koʊk/noun
A shell or shell-like covering, especially the hull of a boat or the hard covering of a seed.
Did you know?Coque ultimately traces to Ancient Greek konkhē, a word for shellfish or shell that also helped produce conch and cochlea—linking an ocean shell to human anatomy.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
konkhē
“A shell or shellfish, especially a mussel or similar sea creature.”
Classical Antiquity
Latin
concha
“A shell, shellfish, or shell-shaped object.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
cocha
“A reduced form referring to a shell or shell-like covering.”
Old French
Old French
coque
“A shell, hull, or hard outer covering.”
17th Century
English
coque
“A borrowed term for a shell or shell-like structure, including a boat’s hull.”
Modern English
English
coque
“A specialized or rare word for a shell, hull, or protective outer covering.”