[a. L. coclea, cochlea snail, snail-shell, screw, water-screw, ad. Gr. κοχλίας of same meanings.]
† 1. a. A spiral staircase [so Gr. κοχλίας]. b. A screw. c. The water-screw of Archimedes.
1538. Leland, Itin., I. 107. There is also a Chochlea with a Turret over it, where the Kepers of the Castelle say Edwarde the Thirdes Band came up thorough the Rok.
1641. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), I. 32. Inventions for draining off the waters … by buckets, mills, cochleas, pumps, and the like.
1641. Wilkins, Math. Magick, II. xv. (1648), 275. Their invention of Archimedes … which is usually called Cochlea, or the water-screw.
1679. Plot, Staffordsh. (1686), 370. One must needs ascend in a single revolution of the Cochlea or spiral … twice the height of a man.
2. Phys. The spiral cavity of the internal ear.
1688. I. Clayton, in Phil. Trans., XVII. 993. They have no Coclea, but instead thereof there ’s a small Cocleous or twisting Passage.
1845. Todd & Bowman, Phys. Anat., II. 74. The cochlea is, in shape, very like a common snail-shell.
1872. Huxley, Physiol., viii. 211. The cochlea … it is supposed, enables the mind to discriminate the quality rather than the quantity or intensity of sound.
3. Conch., A spiral univalve shell; a snail-shell.
1846. Worcester cites Crabb.
