Lewis & Short

cō̆chlĕa, v. coclea.

cō̆clĕa (cō̆chlĕa; cf. the letter C), ae, f. [κοχλίας, ό],

  1. I. a snail: quom caletur cocleae in occulto latent, Plaut. Capt. 1, 1, 12; Plin. 9, 56, 82, § 173 sq.; Varr. R. R. 3, 14; Cic. Div. 2, 64, 133; Auct. Her. 4, 49, 62; Hor. S. 2, 4, 59: nudae, without shells, Plin. 29, 6, 36, § 112; an emblem of slowness, Plaut. Poen. 3, 1, 29.
        1. b. In cocleam, snail-formed, spiral, Cels. 8, 10, 1; Col. 8, 17, 2; cf.: per cocleam ascendebat in cenaculum, Vulg. 3 Reg. 6, 8.
  2. II. Meton.
    1. A. A snail-shell, Mart. 11, 18, 23.
    2. B. A screw of a press, Vitr. 6, 9.
    3. C. A machine for drawing water, a water-snail, waterscrew, Vitr. 5, 12; 10, 8; 10, 11.
    4. D. A door that moves easily, Varr. R. R. 3, 5, 3 Schneid.