caracol

snail; cochlea

Uncertain. Possibly from a derivation of Vulgar Latin *cochleare, from Latin cochlea, from Ancient Greek κοχλίας (kokhlías, “spiral, snail shell”). See also cuchara. Alternatively, possibly of pre-Roman substrate origin. Cognate with Portuguese caracol, Galician caracol, Asturian caracol, and Occitan caragol, from earlier cagarol.