ball valve

noun

Machinery.

1. a valve controlling flow by means of a ball pierced with an opening in one direction and fixed to rotate on a spindle at right angles to the opening.

2. any valve that checks flow by the seating of a ball.

ball valve

noun

1. a one-way valve consisting of a metal ball with a cylindrical hole fitting into a concave seat over an opening

Word History and Origins

Origin of ball valve¹

First recorded in 1830–40