[ad. L. corniculum, dim. of cornū horn.] A little horn (obs.); a small horn-like organ or process, as the ‘horns’ of a snail, the antennæ of an insect.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 155. [In snails] there will be found on either side two black … membranous strings, which extend into the long and shorter cornicle upon protrusion.
1658. Rowland, trans. Moufet’s Theat. Ins., 924. Having two cornicles or little short horns. Ibid., 1003. The cornicles long and black, the wings coming forth of the middle of the loins.
1847. Todd, Cycl. Anat., III. 843/1. Minute cornicles sometimes attached to the pubis. Ibid. (1859), V. 176/2. In Poupart’s ligament … cornicles … are said to have been found in the human subject.
Cornicle, obs. Sc. and north. f. CHRONICLE.
c. 1475. Partenay, 1223. As ther cornicles shewith openly.
