Coquille
/kəˈkiːl/noun
A shell or shell-like object, especially one used as a decorative form or mold; in printing, an accidental omission or error.
Did you know?In French printing, a coquille became an error—especially an omission—possibly because a typesetter’s mistake was likened to a shell-shaped imperfection or a printer’s blunder.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
κογχύλιον (konkhýlion)
“A small shell or shellfish, from the broader word for a shell.”
Classical Latin
Latin
conchȳlium
“A shellfish, shell, or purple-producing mollusk.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
conchilia
“Shells or shellfish; the form that influenced later Romance words.”
12th–13th Century
Old French
coquille
“A shell; borrowed and reshaped from Latin conchylium.”
16th Century
French
coquille
“A shell, and later a printing error or omission.”
17th Century
English
coquille
“A shell or shell-shaped object; also a typographical error.”